How we score trust

Every HasTrust verdict is built the same way: gather real evidence from across the web, fold in objective checks anyone can repeat, and show our work. Here is exactly how a score is reached.

1. Live web research, every time

When you check a store, product, or site, we run a fresh multi-source search across the open web and read what independent sources say — review platforms, scam-report databases, news, forums, and the site itself. A verdict is a synthesis of that evidence, never a single opinion.

2. The signals we weigh

We look for what actually predicts whether a buyer gets burned: third-party ratings (such as Trustpilot or BBB), mentions on scam-report sites, clear contact details, a stated return and refund policy, secure payment options, and how established the business is. Verifiable facts — founding year, headquarters, parent company, return window — are pulled out and shown next to the score.

3. A 0–100 score, deliberately cautious

Those signals become a single trust score from 0 to 100. It is conservative by design: when the evidence is thin or conflicting, the score stays low rather than guessing high. A high score has to be earned with real, consistent evidence.

4. Objective checks, shown in the open

On top of the research we run two checks anyone can repeat: domain age (from public registration records) and a live HTTPS/TLS certificate inspection. A very new domain, a missing or invalid certificate, or one about to expire each lower the score by a fixed, published amount — and every adjustment is listed right on the verdict page, so nothing is hidden.

5. Fair to new and small sites

Being new is not the same as being guilty. A site only a few months old that shows no red flags, no bad signals, and valid HTTPS is given the benefit of the doubt with a neutral baseline, instead of being branded high-risk for lack of history. Honest new shops get a fair shot.

6. Community votes, weighted carefully

Visitors can vote a verdict trustworthy or not. Those votes adjust the score, but within strict limits: they only count once enough people have voted, the swing is capped, and a statistical confidence interval keeps a handful of votes from tipping a result. Community input is applied live and never silently baked into the stored score.

7. From score to recommendation

The score maps to a plain label — Trusted, Mixed, Caution, High risk, or Unknown — and a clear bottom line: buy, wait, skip, or consider a better alternative. When we genuinely cannot tell, we say Unknown rather than pretend.

8. What a score is — and isn't

A HasTrust verdict is an automated, evidence-based assessment to help you decide faster. It is not a guarantee, a legal judgment, or a substitute for your own care with payment and personal data. Verdicts are refreshed as new evidence appears, and the sources behind every score are linked on the page so you can check them yourself.

We don't sell rankings or take payment to raise a score. If you think a verdict is wrong, tell us and we'll re-check it.