Shopping online has become a normal part of life, but it's important to make sure the eCommerce websites you use are safe and trustworthy. 

With more fake shops and scams appearing each year, it’s smart to take a few steps to protect yourself. Whether you’re buying clothes, gadgets, or gifts, there are several ways to check if an eCommerce site is genuine and safe to use.

Check Reviews on Social Media and Google

One of the first things you should do is look up the company’s name on social media and Google. Reviews from other customers can give you a good idea of whether the business is reliable. 

Look for comments about delivery times, product quality, and customer service. A trusted company will often have positive feedback and clear responses to any problems. If you see a lot of complaints or no reviews at all, that’s a sign to be careful. According to a 2024 UK survey, 73% of online shoppers said they read reviews before buying from a new website.

Check the Company Address and Business Registration

A real company should have a clear physical address and be registered in the UK if they claim to be based here. You can check their company details on Companies House, the official UK government website for registered businesses. If the company is listed there, you can see how long they’ve been operating and who runs it. Be wary if the website has no address or only gives a vague location. Scammers often hide behind fake names or overseas addresses.

Look at the Prices – Are They Too Good?

If the prices seem too low to be true, that might be a red flag. Scammers often lure people in with huge discounts or fake deals. Before buying, compare prices with other known retailers. A massive discount on high-demand items could mean the product is fake or might never arrive. It’s okay to find a good deal, but always ask why it’s so cheap.

Use Protection Tools

There are some tools you can use to help you check if a site is safe or not - such as malware protection services, phishing checkers and tools to avoid a data breach claim. Available through chrome extensions or tools that you download onto your phone, they can give you an indication of the potential risk of using a website. 

Whether you are using Norton or Nord, these tools often come with free trials, which you could try for the purpose of making this particular purchase.

Check for Active Social Media

Most real businesses have social media pages where they post updates, respond to customers, and show off their products. A website linked to an active Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok account is more likely to be real. Check when they last posted and if people are engaging with them. A site with no online presence might not be genuine.

Do They Have an SSL Certificate?

When you visit a website, make sure the web address starts with https and not just http. The “s” means the site has an SSL certificate, which helps protect your personal and payment information. You should also see a small padlock icon in the address bar. If it’s missing, don’t enter your card details.

Do They Have Contact Information and Support?

A trustworthy website will give you ways to contact them including an email address and a phone number. Some will even have a live chat option. If there’s no contact information at all, that’s a bad sign. A 2023 UK report showed that 58% of consumers are less likely to trust a business without easy ways to get in touch.

By taking these simple steps, you can stay safe while shopping online and avoid fake websites or scams.