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How to Find if a Website Is Legitimate

Three Methods:Using General TipsUsing a Google Transparency ReportUsing the Better Business BureauCommunity Q&A

This wikiHow teaches you how to evaluate an internet site's credibility before using it. In addition to practicing basic internet safety, you can use Google's Transparency Report or the Better Business Bureau's site to verify a website's legitimacy.

Quick Summary

1. Search for the website’s name and review the results.
2. Make sure the website connects securely over https (not http).
3. Look for “Secure” or a padlock in the browser’s address bar.
4. Evaluate the URL for extraneous characters or misspellings.
5. Beware of invasive advertising.
6. Use the site’s contact page.
7. Create a Google Transparency Report.
8. Check the Better Business Bureau.

Did this summary help you?

Using General Tips

  1. 1
    Type the website's name into a search engine and review the results. If the site in question is a hazard (or simply an overwhelmingly illegitimate site), a cursory Google check will be enough to inform you accordingly.
    • Google tends to compile user reviews of high-traffic sites near the top of the search results, so be sure to check these if there are any.
    • Make sure you're looking at reviews and feedback from sources unaffiliated with the website.
  2. 2
    Look at the website's connection type. A website that has an "https" tag is usually more secure--and therefore more trustworthy--than a site using the more common "http" designation. This is because "https" sites' security certification is a process most illegitimate sites don't bother with.[1]
    • A site that uses an "https" connection can still be unreliable, so it's best to verify the website using other means as well.[2]
    • Make sure the site's payment page in particular is an "https" page.
  3. 3
    Check the site's security status in your browser's address bar. For most browsers, a "safe" website will display a green padlock icon to the left of the website's URL.
    • You can click on the padlock icon to verify the details of the website (e.g., the type of encryption used).
  4. 4
    Evaluate the website's URL. A website's URL consists of the connection type ("http" or "https"), the domain name itself (e.g., "wikihow"), and the extension (".com", ".net", etc.). Even if you've verified that the connection is secure, be on the lookout for the following red flags:
    • Multiple dashes or symbols in the domain name.
    • Domain names that imitate actual businesses (e.g., "Amaz0n" or "NikeOutlet").
    • One-off sites that use a credible site's templates (e.g., "visihow").
    • Domain extensions like ".biz" and ".info". These sites tend not to be credible.[3]
    • Keep in mind as well that ".com" and ".net" sites, while not inherently unreliable, are the easiest domain extensions to obtain. As such, they don't carry the same credibility as a ".edu" (educational institute) or ".gov" (government) site.[4]
  5. 5
    Look for bad English on the site. If you notice a large number of poorly-spelled (or missing) words, generally bad grammar, or awkward phrasing, you should question the site's reliability.
    • Even if the site in question is technically legitimate insofar as it isn't a scam, any inaccuracies in language will also cast doubt on the accuracy of its information, thereby making it a poor source.
  6. 6
    Watch out for invasive advertising. If your selected site has a stunningly large number of ads crowding the page or ads that automatically play audio, it's probably not a credible site. Additionally, consider looking elsewhere if you encounter any of the following types of ads:
    • Ads that take up the whole page
    • Ads that require you to take a survey (or complete some other action) before continuing
    • Ads that redirect you to another page
    • Explicit or suggestive ads
  7. 7
    Use the website's "Contact" page. Most sites provide a Contact page so that users can send questions, comments, and concerns to the owner of the site. If you can, call or email the provided number or email address to verify the legitimacy of the website.
    • Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of the site to search for the Contact page.
    • If the site in question doesn't have a Contact page listed anywhere, it should be an immediate red flag.
  8. 8
    Use a "WhoIs" search to research who has registered the website's domain. All domains are required to display contact information for the person or company who has registered the domain. You can get WhoIs info from most domain registrars, or from services such as Some things to look out for:
    • Private registration: It's possible register a domain privately, where a "private registration" provider serves as the domain's contact, instead of the actual owner. If a domain uses private registration, consider this a red flag.
    • Contact information is suspicious: For example, if the name of a registrant is "Steve Smith," but the email address is "", this might be a sign that the registrant is trying to hide their true identity.
    • Recent registration or transfers: A recent registration or transfer of a domain may indicate that a site is not trustworthy.
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Method 1 Quiz

An illegitimate website may:

Yup! An illegitimate website may have multiple dashes or symbols in the domain name. It may also use numbers instead of letters or an extension such as .biz or .info. If you think a website is illegitimate, don't use it! Read on for another quiz question.

Not exactly! "Https" actually identifies more secure sites that have a security certification. Illegitimate sites most often do not have this certification. Try another answer...

Definitely not! A green padlock icon means the site is secure and most likely legitimate. If you click on the icon, you can verify the details of the website, such as the type of encryption used. Try another answer...

Not necessarily! Many legitimate sites use advertising. However, watch out for ads that take up the whole page, require you to complete an action to continue, or redirect you to another page. These are often used on illegitimate sites. There’s a better option out there!

Using a Google Transparency Report

  1. 1
    Open the Google Transparency Report webpage. You can quickly run a website's address through this service to see its safety rating from Google.
  2. 2
    Click the "Search by URL" field. It's in the middle of the page.
  3. 3
    Type in your website's URL. This includes the name of the website (e.g., "wikihow") and the extension (e.g., ".com").
    • For best results, copy your website's URL and paste it into this field.
  4. 4
    Click the blue magnifying glass button.
  5. 5
    Review your results. Sites range in rating from "No data available" to "Not dangerous" to "Partially dangerous" and so on.
    • For example, sites like WikiHow and YouTube achieve "Not dangerous" ratings from Google, whereas Reddit garners a "Partially dangerous" rating due to "deceptive content" (e.g., misleading advertising).
    • The Google Transparency Report also provides examples of why it gave a certain site a rating, so you can decide for yourself whether or not the rating rationale pertains to you.
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Method 2 Quiz

True or False: The Google Transparency Report describes why it gives sites their rating.

Right! By reviewing these the description and examples, you can determine whether to access the website. Read on for another quiz question.

Nope! The Google Transparency Report allows you to search a website's address so you can view its safety rating, which is determined by Google. The report provides describes the reason for the rating. Try another answer...

Using the Better Business Bureau

  1. 1
    Open the Better Business Bureau webpage. The Better Business Bureau website includes a verification process that you can use to validate your selected website.
    • Note that the Better Business Bureau is geared toward matching businesses with your provided website. If you're simply trying to see if the website is safe, use the Google Transparency Report.
  2. 2
    Click the Find a Business tab.
  3. 3
    Click the "Find a" text field.
  4. 4
    Type in your website's URL. For best results, copy and paste the exact URL into this field.
  5. 5
    Click the "Near" field.
  6. 6
    Type in a location. While this isn't mandatory, doing so will narrow your search.
    • If you don't know your business' geographic location, skip this step.
  7. 7
    Click Search.
  8. 8
    Review your results. You can verify your website's credibility by comparing the Better Business Bureau's results with the website's claims.
    • For example, if your website claims to sell shoes but the Better Business Bureau links the URL to an ad revenue service, you know that the site is a scam.
    • However, if the Better Business Bureau results line up with the site's theme, you can probably trust the site.
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Method 3 Quiz

How can the Better Business Bureau help you determine a website's credibility?

Nope! The Better Business Bureau will show you whether a website belongs to a certain company. You can then access reviews and complaints for the business, though they may not specifically focus on the website. Try another answer...

Not exactly! The Better Business Bureau matches businesses with their websites. To see if a website is safe, you'll need to use the Google Transparency Report. Try another answer...

Absolutely! For example, if the website you're evaluating says it sells shoes, but the Better Business Bureau links the URL to an ad revenue service, the site is most likely a scam. Read on for another quiz question.

Try again! You should look for contact information for the site's owners on the website; this is not available through the Better Business Bureau. If the site does not provide contact information, it is a red flag that it may not be legitimate. Choose another answer!

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Is Atom Bank a genuine website?
    wikiHow Contributor
    I believe so. The current certificate on the website is valid. It also has a .co at the end of the URL, showing that it is a legitimate company. There are also multiple articles on other sites talking about them in seemingly legitimate contexts. Due to these factors, I think it is a genuine website.
  • How can I tell if a puppy retailer is legitimate?
    wikiHow Contributor
    You should adopt your puppy, not buy one. When you adopt a puppy from a shelter, it is usually already vaccinated and you're giving a lonely pet a home. Try looking up local shelters, and check their reviews.
  • Is a legitimate website?
    wikiHow Contributor
    No it is not. If you don't know if the website is legit or not, use Google Chrome and see if it has a lock in the corner. If it does, it's safe.
  • Is legit?
    wikiHow Contributor
    No, it's a scam. The photos are from flightclub, so the place is fake.
  • How do I determine if a golf website is legitimate?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Look out for incorrect spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Also check if the info is exactly copied from another site.
  • If a website doesn't update their pages regularly, does that mean it's fake?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Not necessarily. Some small businesses use the web platform as a display window, setting things up and concentrating on the back-end. These tend to be businesses that either started as a traditional storefront, or saw the online market as an expansion from an existing venture. However, I would be wary of online-only businesses, or larger businesses that do not update their page regularly.
  • How can I know if a product from an online shop is real?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If you find yourself questioning the validity of a product, it's best to look at the user reviews. You can expand your search to reviews of other products under the same company/brand. Let the reviews be your guide in deciding the legitimacy and quality of any product.
Unanswered Questions
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    • Wolfram Alpha is another great place for running website diagnostics.


    • Sites that are user-driven (like eBay or Craigslist) are hard to classify as "safe" due to their dynamic natures. While you're unlikely to contract a computer virus from eBay, you still need to look out for instances of other users attempting to scam you.

    Article Info

    Categories: Internet | Avoiding Consumer Scams | Consumer Protection Law

    In other languages:

    Español: saber si un sitio web es legítimo, Português: Descobrir se um Site é Legitimo, Italiano: Scoprire se un Sito Web è Sicuro e Autentico, Русский: узнать, является ли сайт законным, Deutsch: Herausfinden ob eine Webseite seriös ist, Français: savoir si un site web est légitime, Bahasa Indonesia: Memeriksa Keabsahan Situs Web, ไทย: เช็คความน่าเชื่อถือของเว็บไซต์, العربية: التحقق من شرعية موقع إلكتروني, Nederlands: Bepalen of een website legitiem is, 한국어: 웹사이트가 신뢰할만한지 확인하는 법, 中文: 确定某个网站是否合法

    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,049,468 times.

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