Awe CheckHow to check an online shop before buying: 8 signs of a trustworthy site
A scam shop shows in its domain, documents, contacts and payment. Check eight signs in five minutes or run the free trust check.
Checked against sources: 11 October 2026
- 8signs of a trustworthy shop
- 5 minfor a manual check
- 0–100the trust index in Awe Check
Eight signs in five minutes
- Domain age: a two-month-old shop with 80% discounts is a red flag.
- Company details: a company or sole-trader name, registration number and address in the footer. Verify the number in the registry.
- Contacts: a phone, email and address, not only a contact form or messenger.
- A returns and delivery page: periods, terms, who pays.
- An offer and a privacy policy: real documents, not a placeholder.
- A secure connection: the lock in the address bar, a valid certificate.
- Payment methods: cards and known payment services, not only a transfer to a private account.
- Reviews outside the site itself: independent platforms and maps, not only the shop’s own pages.
What does not prove honesty
The HTTPS lock exists on scam sites too: it speaks of encryption, not integrity. A pretty design, payment logos and a “2 left” counter prove nothing either.
Check it automatically
The free trust check in Awe Check builds a 0 to 100 index from protection, domain, documents and company details. It does not replace common sense but quickly shows what the shop lacks.
Frequently asked
What if a shop raises doubts?
Pay by card, not by transfer: a card payment can be reversed through the bank. Do not enter card details on pages without HTTPS and do not agree to full prepayment.
Is a new domain always bad?
No. But a new shop needs strong other signs: company details, contacts, clear return terms. “Opened recently” alone is not a verdict.
How can a shop owner add trust?
Fill in the company details, add About, Contacts and Returns pages, show honest reviews and renew the domain for several years.
