Is this website legit? How to spot a fake online shop

Checks before you buy

1. Who runs it? Look for a company name, physical address and registration number (UK and EU sellers must show these). Check the company exists on official registers such as Companies House.
2. Reviews elsewhere: search the shop’s name plus “scam” or “reviews” on independent sites, not just testimonials on the shop itself.
3. The web address: look for misspellings of real brands and unusual domain endings. A padlock symbol only means the connection is encrypted, not that the shop is genuine.
4. Domain age: very new websites selling big-brand goods at deep discounts are a classic warning sign. Free website-checking tools can show when a domain was registered.
5. Prices: discounts far below every other retailer are a red flag.
6. Payment options: be wary if the only options are bank transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards, or if card payment “fails” and you’re asked to pay another way.
7. Contact details: a contact form only, or a free email address, gives you little to go on.
8. Policies: genuine shops have clear delivery, returns and privacy policies. Copied text or policies naming another company are warning signs.
9. Social media ads: check the shop independently instead of trusting an ad or a “closing down sale”.

Pay in a way that protects you

Paying by credit card gives the strongest protection: Section 75 in the UK for items over £100, and Fair Credit Billing Act disputes in the US. Debit cards and many payment services offer chargeback or buyer protection. Bank transfers to strangers are much harder to recover.

If you’ve already paid

• Contact your card provider or bank straight away and ask about a chargeback.
• Keep screenshots of the website, order confirmation and any messages.
• Report the website: in the UK to the NCSC’s suspicious website service and to Report Fraud; in the US to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Change any password you used on the site, and watch for phishing emails using your order details.

More in our guide to online scams.

General information, not legal advice. This post reflects the position on the date shown. Check the official sources below for the latest rules.

Last updated: 14 October 2026