Guides — shop safely online
Short, practical reads: how scammers operate, what to check before you pay, and how to recover if something already went wrong. Checking a specific shop? Run it through HasTrust instead.
How to verify the company behind an online shop: registers, VAT numbers and domain records
A step-by-step way to find out who actually runs a web shop: the legal notice, company registers per country, VAT numbers, domain records, address checks and what a mismatch means.
Read the guide →Which payment methods have buyer protection? Card, PayPal, bank transfer, BNPL and crypto compared
What you can actually get back when a shop does not deliver, per payment method: credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple and Google Pay, buy-now-pay-later, bank transfer, crypto and gift cards.
Read the guide →Is this cashback site legit? How to verify a cashback or rewards site before you sign up
How cashback sites make money, which signs separate a real one from a scam, why 'cashback did not track' is usually not fraud, and the fake-cashback trick used by scam shops.
Read the guide →Fake Amazon Storefronts: How to Spot a Copycat Site
Scam sites copy Amazon listings, photos and prices to look real. Learn the checkable signs of a fake Amazon storefront and what to do before you pay.
Read the guide →Is This Amazon Seller Legit? How to Check Before You Buy
How to vet a third-party Amazon seller in minutes: feedback score, business details, red flags in the listing, and what to do if an order goes wrong.
Read the guide →Is This Online Store Legit? 7 Checks Before You Pay
Run these 7 quick checks before buying from an unfamiliar online store: domain age, contact details, reviews, payment methods, policies and more.
Read the guide →How to Check if a Link Is Safe Before Clicking
Learn to spot dangerous links before you click: read the real domain, expand short URLs, test links with free checkers, and know what to do if you clicked.
Read the guide →What 2,000 checked online stores have in common: scam shop data (2026)
HasTrust assessed 2,061 doubted online stores. High-risk shops sit on domains a median 254 days old vs 26 years for trusted ones; under 90 days is high risk 91% of the time.
Read the guide →Is this website a scam? How to check any site in 2 minutes
A two-minute routine to tell a scam website from a real one: domain age, company details, payment methods, prices, reviews and lookalike URLs, plus what to do if you already paid.
Read the guide →Is Wayfair Legit? Is It Safe to Buy Furniture Online?
Wayfair is a real, established retailer — but quality and returns trip buyers up. Here's how to order furniture safely and spot fake Wayfair lookalike sites.
Read the guide →Is Walmart Marketplace Safe? How to Vet Third-Party Sellers
Walmart Marketplace is generally safe, but third-party sellers vary. Learn how to spot who you're really buying from, vet a seller, and get your money back.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Jewelry or an Engagement Ring Online?
Yes — if you verify the store first. How to check a jewelry site, read diamond certificates, pay safely, and spot fake ring shops before you buy.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Makeup or Perfume Online? Spot Fakes
Buying makeup or perfume online is safe if you know the red flags. Learn how to spot fake cosmetics, verify sellers, and get your money back.
Read the guide →Are Amazon Return Pallets Legit? Avoid Liquidation Scams
Amazon return pallets are real, but many pallet ads are scams. Learn where legit pallets are sold, the red flags to check, and how to buy safely.
Read the guide →Is The RealReal or Vestiaire Collective Legit for Bags?
Both resale platforms are real businesses, but buying safely takes care. How authentication works, what to check before paying, and what to do if it goes wrong.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy a Used Phone Online? Avoid Locked Phones
How to buy a used phone online safely: run an IMEI check, spot blacklisted or iCloud-locked phones, vet the seller, and pay in a way you can get refunded.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Book an Airbnb or Vrbo? Avoid Rental Scams
Airbnb and Vrbo are safe when you book and pay on-platform. Learn the red flags of vacation rental scams, how to vet a listing, and what to do if targeted.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Vitamins Online? How to Avoid Fakes
Buying vitamins and supplements online is safe if you know what to check. Spot fake products, vet unfamiliar stores, and shop from sellers you can trust.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Prescription Glasses or Contacts Online?
Buying glasses or contacts online is safe if the seller verifies your prescription. Learn the legal rules, the red flags, and how to vet any optical site.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy on Poshmark, Depop or Mercari?
Poshmark, Depop and Mercari are legit resale apps — but scammers use them. Learn how buyer protection works, red flags to spot and what to do if a deal goes wrong.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Game Keys From G2A or Kinguin?
G2A and Kinguin sell cheap game keys through third-party sellers. Learn the real risks, how buyer protection works, and how to avoid revoked or region-locked keys.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Sneakers on StockX or GOAT?
StockX and GOAT are legit resale platforms, but not risk-free. How verification works, what to check before you pay, and how to avoid fake lookalike sites.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Medication From an Online Pharmacy?
How to tell a legit online pharmacy from a fake one: licence checks you can run in minutes, red flags to avoid, and what to do if you already ordered.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Book Flights on Third-Party Travel Sites?
Third-party flight sites can be safe — or a headache. Learn the risks, the trust signals to check before you pay, and what to do if a booking goes wrong.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Back a Kickstarter or Indiegogo Project?
Backing a crowdfunding campaign isn't the same as shopping. Learn how Kickstarter and Indiegogo handle refunds, the red flags to check, and how to pledge safely.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy From Etsy Sellers? Spot Scam Shops
Etsy is legit, but individual shops vary. Learn the exact signals to check before buying, how scams work, and what to do if an Etsy seller rips you off.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy a Used Car Online? Avoid Escrow Scams
Buying a used car online can be safe if you spot fake escrow sites and deposit scams first. Learn the red flags and how to verify a seller before you pay.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy a Puppy Online? How to Avoid Pet Scams
Buying a puppy online can be safe if you verify the seller first. Learn the red flags of puppy scams, how to check a breeder, and what to do if you paid.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy From a Shopify Store? How to Check
Shopify itself is secure, but anyone can open a store on it. Run these quick checks — domain age, contact details, reviews, payment options — before you order.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Discounted Gift Cards Online?
Discounted gift cards can be legit or a fast way to lose money. Learn how resellers work, the red flags of drained-card scams, and how to check a site first.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Resale Tickets Online? Avoid Scams
Resale tickets can be safe if you buy the right way. Learn the red flags of ticket scams, which payment methods protect you, and how to verify any seller.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy Refurbished Electronics Online?
Refurbished electronics can be a smart buy — or a costly mistake. Here's what to check first: warranty, grading, seller reputation, and payment safety.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy From Third-Party Sellers on Amazon?
Most Amazon third-party sellers are legit, but not all. Learn the exact checks to run before you buy and how the A-to-z Guarantee protects your money.
Read the guide →Is This Customer Service Number Real? Spot Fake Support
Fake customer service numbers trick shoppers into paying scammers. Learn how to verify a support line, spot red flags on the call, and find the real number.
Read the guide →Seller Only Accepts Zelle, Bank Transfer or Gift Cards?
Sellers who only take Zelle, bank transfer or gift cards show a classic scam red flag. Learn why, how to check a store, and what to do if you already paid.
Read the guide →Ordered Online, Got the Wrong Item? Scam or Mistake + Refund
Received the wrong or a cheap item after ordering online? How to tell a scam from a mistake, and the exact steps to get your money back.
Read the guide →PayPal Friends and Family Scam: Seller Red Flag Explained
Why a seller asking you to pay via PayPal Friends and Family is a scam red flag: what you lose, how the trick works, and what to do if you already paid.
Read the guide →Fake Order Confirmation Emails: Real or Scam? How to Tell
Got a 'your order has shipped' email you don't recognize? Learn the telltale signs of fake order confirmations and how to safely check if a receipt is real.
Read the guide →Is Temu, Shein or AliExpress Safe? Buyer's Guide
Temu, Shein and AliExpress are real companies, not scams — but there are trade-offs. What's actually risky, what's fine, and how to protect your money.
Read the guide →Is Buy Now, Pay Later Safe? Klarna & Afterpay Explained
How safe is Buy Now, Pay Later? The real risks of Klarna, Afterpay & Co., how scammers abuse BNPL logos, and how to check a store before you split a payment.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Save Your Card Details on Shopping Websites?
When saving your card at checkout is fine, when it's risky, and safer options like wallets and virtual cards — plus how to delete stored card details.
Read the guide →Brushing Scam: Why You Got a Package You Didn't Order
Received a mystery package you never ordered? Learn how brushing scams work, whether your data is at risk, and the exact steps to take next.
Read the guide →How to Tell If an Online Store Is Dropshipping
Spot dropshipping stores before you buy: reverse-image tricks, shipping-policy red flags, why orders ship from China, and what to do if you already paid.
Read the guide →Charged After a Free Trial? How to Stop Subscription Traps
Unexpected charge after a free trial? Learn how to spot subscription traps, cancel fast, dispute the charge with your bank, and block future billing.
Read the guide →How to Spot Counterfeit Products Before You Buy Online
Learn the warning signs of fake products online: seller checks, price red flags, photo and review tricks, and what to do if you already paid.
Read the guide →My Order Never Arrived — Scam or Just Late? Get a Refund
Ordered something that never showed up? Learn how to tell a slow shipment from a scam store and the exact steps to get your money back fast.
Read the guide →Are Google Shopping Ads Safe to Buy From?
Google Shopping ads aren't vetted the way many shoppers assume. Learn the checks that tell a real store from a scam before you pay.
Read the guide →Marketplace Scams: Facebook, Vinted & eBay Safety Guide
Spot Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and eBay scams before you pay. Checkable red flags, safe payment rules and what to do if you're targeted.
Read the guide →How to Spot Fake Reviews Before You Buy
Learn to spot fake reviews with checkable signals: reviewer profiles, timing patterns, wording, star spread, and free tools to verify any store.
Read the guide →Why Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices Are a Trap
That 70%-off deal on a store you've never heard of? Learn what a fake bargain hides and how to check a shop in two minutes before you pay.
Read the guide →How to Get Your Money Back After an Online Scam
Scammed online? Act fast to recover your money: dispute the charge, contact your bank or payment app, and report the fraud. Step-by-step guide.
Read the guide →Safest Ways to Pay Online: A Buyer's Guide
Which payment methods protect you when shopping online, which to avoid, and exactly what to do if a store won't deliver or turns out to be a scam.
Read the guide →Fake USPS, DHL & PostNL Delivery Texts: How to Spot Them
Learn to spot fake USPS, DHL and PostNL delivery texts and emails, avoid the scam link, and know what to do if you already clicked.
Read the guide →Is It Safe to Buy From Instagram & TikTok Ads?
How to tell if an Instagram or TikTok ad shop is legit before you buy. Checkable signals, red flags, and safe payment steps.
Read the guide →How to Spot a Fake Online Shop: 9 Warning Signs
Learn how to spot a fake online store before you buy. Check the domain, payment options, reviews, contact details and more with this quick guide.
Read the guide →Scammed Online? Steps to Take Right Now
Got scammed online? Here's what to do first: stop payment, call your bank, report the fraud, and protect your accounts. A clear step-by-step guide.
Read the guide →How to Tell If a Website Is Legit: 9 Checks
Nine fast, checkable ways to tell if a website is legit before you buy — from domain age and payment methods to reviews and contact details.
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