Real or Fake IndiaCHECK BEFORE YOU TRUST

ONLINE SAFETY / SHOPPING

How to check if a website is genuine or fake.

Check several independent signals before paying a new seller. A professional design, padlock or large discount cannot establish that an order will arrive.

Shopping bag and phone with seller verification symbols

1. Read the entire address

Look for spelling changes, extra words and misleading subdomains. Open the brand’s official website independently rather than following a message or advertisement. Do not enter payment details until you are satisfied that you are on the intended site.

2. Check who is selling

Look for a legal business name, usable contact information and clear policies. Compare details across the checkout, receipt and seller pages. A copied address or registration number does not prove that the website belongs to that business.

3. Find evidence outside the website

Search for independent experiences and read the substance of complaints. A new domain, a sparse review history or repeated generic praise can justify caution, but none is a complete verdict. Search results and automated reputation tools can also be incomplete.

4. Read delivery and refund terms

Check delivery timelines, return conditions, refund procedure and who pays return shipping. Save the product page and policies before ordering. A countdown timer should not force you to skip verification.

5. Inspect the payment request

Check that the merchant name and requested amount make sense. Pause if you are asked to transfer money to an unrelated personal account or move the conversation away from the normal checkout. Never share a PIN or OTP with a seller claiming to process a refund.

Why HTTPS is not a trust certificate

HTTPS protects communication with a website. A dishonest operator can also have an encrypted site. Judge the business identity, policies and independent evidence together.

If you suspect fraud after paying

  1. Contact your bank or payment provider promptly through an official route.
  2. Save the website address, order confirmation, chats and transaction reference.
  3. Use the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal for suspected cybercrime.
  4. Use the National Consumer Helpline for a consumer grievance.

Can a checker guarantee safety?

No. A website lookup is a clue, not a guarantee about fulfilment or future behaviour. This site does not run a live domain-scanning service. For another important digital decision, read our loan app verification guide.