How to Check If a Website Is Safe Before You Buy

Online shopping is convenient, but not every website that looks real actually is. Scammers build fake websites that look almost identical to real stores. They copy logos, product photos, and even customer reviews. Once you enter your credit card number, the money disappears and no product ever arrives.

The good news is that there are five reliable checks you can do in about two minutes before purchasing anything online. None of them require technical knowledge. This guide walks you through each one.

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Check 1: Look for HTTPS and the padlock icon

When you are on a website where you might enter a credit card number, look at the top of your browser at the address bar — the long bar that shows the website's address.

A safe website address starts with **https://** (with an "s" at the end). You may also see a small padlock icon to the left of the address. Both of these mean the website is using encryption to protect the information you send — like your credit card number.

An unsafe website starts with just **http://** (no "s"). Never enter a credit card number on a site that starts with http:// only.

One important note: HTTPS alone does not mean a website is honest. It means your connection to it is private. A scam site can have HTTPS too. That is why you need all five checks together.

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Check 2: Make sure the domain name is spelled correctly

Scammers buy website addresses that look almost like the real thing but with one small difference:

• amaz**0**n.com (zero instead of the letter O)
• paypa**I**.com (capital I instead of lowercase L)
• **faceb00k**.com (zeros instead of O's)
• **apple-support-help**.com (extra words added)

Before buying anything, read the website address letter by letter. The correct address for a well-known store should be simple and exact — amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com. If the address has extra words, numbers replacing letters, or hyphens where there should not be any, close the tab and go directly to the real store's website by typing it yourself.

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Check 3: Look for real contact information and a return policy

A real business has a physical address, a working phone number, and a clear return or refund policy. These should be easy to find on the website — usually in the footer at the bottom of the page or on an "About Us" or "Contact" page.

What to look for: - A physical street address (not a P.O. Box only) - A phone number you could actually call - An email address that matches the business name (not a Gmail or Yahoo address) - A return policy that explains exactly how returns work

If a website has no contact information at all, or the "About Us" page is completely blank, do not buy from it.

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Check 4: Search for reviews on Google and the BBB

Before buying from a website you have never used before, spend two minutes searching for what other customers say.

Also try: "[website name] scam" and "[website name] complaints"

If multiple people report never receiving their orders, or describe charges appearing with no product shipped, that is a strong warning sign.

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Check 5: Use Google Safe Browsing to check a suspicious link

Google maintains a constantly updated list of websites that are known to be dangerous — hosting malware, running phishing scams, or engaging in fraud. You can check any website address against this list for free.

This is especially useful when you receive a link in an email or text message and you are not sure whether to click it.

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Red flags that mean "do not buy here"

Even if a website passes some of the checks above, walk away if you see any of these: - Prices that are far too good to be true (a $1,200 laptop for $89) - No HTTPS at all - No contact information anywhere on the site - Checkout asks for your Social Security number (no store ever needs this) - Payment is only accepted by gift cards, wire transfer, Zelle, or cryptocurrency - Spelling errors and poor grammar throughout the site - Photos that look like stock images with no real product details

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If you have already bought from a suspicious site

If you completed a purchase and now have doubts, act right away:

1. 1Call your credit or debit card company right away — the number is on the back of the card. Tell them you may have made a purchase from a fraudulent website and ask about disputing the charge.
2. 2Watch your bank statements closely for the next 30 days for any charges you did not make.
3. 3If you used a debit card, consider asking your bank to issue a new card number.
4. 4Report the site to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov — this helps protect other people.