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Scam Checker
HomeScam Website Checker

Free Scam Website Checker

Paste the full website address to check the URL, domain age, lookalike patterns, and available reputation reports.

Scam Checker

Paste it once. We will work out what kind of check it needs.

Checks the URL and available signals. A low-signal result cannot prove the site or seller is safe.

PNG, JPG, WEBP up to 10 MB, 24 MP, max 8,192 px per side

PDF, DOCX, TXT up to 10 MB

Free, no sign-up. A low-signal result never guarantees that something is safe.

Privacy: Core analysis runs in your browser and no scan history is retained. The extracted URL/domain may be checked securely; domain reputation data may be cached for up to seven days.

Pattern Detection

The checker looks for suspicious wording and link patterns, then explains the warning signs it finds.

Privacy First

Full messages, emails, and files are not retained as scan history. Applicable extracted indicators may be checked securely, with public IP/domain reputation data cached only for its documented short lifetime.

Clear Results

Check for warning signs and read the next steps. No sign-up required.

What this scam website checker can check

A fake online store can have professional photos, a working checkout and copied brand logos. The checker can help you examine the URL and available reputation signals. Use the manual checks below as well; appearance alone cannot establish who runs a shop.

  • Lookalike domain. Real brand spelt wrong, swapped letters (rn vs m, 0 vs O), or the brand name buried in a subdomain (e.g. nike.shop-au.com).
  • Recent registration. A new domain that conflicts with a retailer's claimed history deserves an independent check. Businesses can change domains; domain age alone is not proof of a scam.
  • Available reputation reports. The result shows the external sources checked and whether a lookup was complete, partial or unavailable. Missing data and no matching reports do not establish safety.

Shop details to check yourself

The URL checker does not inspect a shop's page content, contact details, return policies or customer reviews. Check these separately before you buy:

  • Unexpected domain. Compare the full address with the business's known website. An extension such as .shop or .com.au does not prove fraud or legitimacy.
  • Contact details you cannot verify. Check that the stated business, address and contact details belong to the seller. Scammers can copy a real business registration.
  • Payment red flags. Bank transfer or crypto only, no card option, no PayPal Goods & Services.
  • Identical 5-star reviews all dated within a week, no negative reviews anywhere on the open web.

Is this online store a scam? Quick checklist

  1. Run the URL through the checker above.
  2. Search "[domain] scam" and "[domain] review". Read independent reports critically; missing complaints do not establish safety.
  3. Use a domain-registration lookup to compare its age with the seller's claims. A new domain is a reason to check further, and an older domain is not a guarantee.
  4. Cross-check the brand against its real, known domain (e.g. nike.com, not nike-au-sale.shop).
  5. If you cannot verify the seller, do not pay. If you proceed, use a secure payment method and check its protection terms; reimbursement is not guaranteed.

Why a shopping site can look perfect and still be a scam

Fake stores buy a ready-made Shopify theme, scrape product photos from the real brand, and clone the checkout flow. The padlock (HTTPS) on the browser bar means the connection is encrypted — not that the merchant is legitimate. Scammers get HTTPS certificates in minutes.

A social-media ad or a familiar logo does not establish that a brand authorised a sale. Open the brand's known website independently and check whether it lists the offer or retailer. Read more about these checks in Scamwatch's buying and selling guidance.

Just need to check a single link?

Use the dedicated scam link / URL checker — same engine, focused on lookalike domains and phishing signals.

Already paid? Open the damage-control checklist.

Step-by-step actions for the first hour after a fake-store purchase, including bank chargeback timing.

More free scam checkers

Checking something other than a store? Use the right free checker for the job — each one runs the same private, on-device engine:

About to sign in or download something? Read what to check before you trust a website. For shopping advice, read how to check if a website is legitimate before you buy, or browse recent scam website reports. If you have already been hit, use the damage-control checklist, or check our general scam checker. See also the community scam report database.

Scam website checker — frequently asked questions

Is the scam website checker really free?

Yes. The core website check is free, with no sign-up or paywall. Core analysis runs in your browser and no scan history is retained; an extracted domain and its registration result may be cached for up to seven days. Automated or abusive traffic may be limited to protect service availability.

How do I know if a website is legit before I buy?

Paste the URL into the checker, then check the seller independently. Domain age is one clue: a new domain can belong to a legitimate business, and an old one can be misused. Compare the address with the brand's known website, read independent reviews, and verify contact details through a separate trusted source. A business registration can be copied. If you cannot confirm who you are paying, pause the purchase.

Does HTTPS or the padlock mean a shopping website is safe?

No. HTTPS means the connection is encrypted; it does not establish that the seller is trustworthy. Scam websites can use HTTPS too. Check the seller and the offer independently before sharing information or paying.

What does a partial or unavailable website check mean?

Some external lookups did not finish. Open the coverage receipt to see which sources were checked and which are missing, and use Retry where it is available. A missing lookup is not a clean result, and even complete coverage cannot guarantee that a website or seller is safe. Verify the seller independently before paying.

Can this website scam checker spot fake online shops?

It can highlight warning signs such as lookalike domains, recent registration and available reputation reports. It cannot establish that a shop is legitimate or guarantee a safe purchase. Check the shop's contact details, returns policy and payment options yourself; a URL result does not replace those checks.

Can a website install malware just by me visiting it?

Rarely, but possible — "drive-by downloads" exploit unpatched browsers. Keeping your browser updated and using an ad-blocker covers most of this risk. If you only visited the page and entered nothing, you are usually fine.

What is the best scam website checker?

Look for a checker that explains its signals and limits. Our free scam website checker examines the URL for lookalike patterns and uses available domain-registration, phishing and community-report information. It does not inspect a shop's page content, contact details, return policies or customer reviews. Check those independently; a low-signal result cannot establish that a seller is legitimate or guarantee a safe purchase.