How to Check an Online Shop Before You Pay: A Short Checklist
5 min read Fake shopping sites and social media shops disappear after taking your money. These checks take a few minutes and help you decide whether a seller is worth the risk. September 26, 2026 05:11 By Disha Varia, Guj Times
Social media is full of shops offering a branded phone at half price or a famous brand of shoes for a few hundred rupees. Some of these sellers are genuine small businesses. Many are not. The difference is rarely obvious from the advertisement, so it helps to run through a short checklist before you hand over money.
1. Read the web address slowly
Scammers copy well-known names with tiny changes: an extra letter, a hyphen or an unusual ending. Type the brand's address yourself rather than tapping a link in an ad or a chat message.
2. Remember that the padlock is not a certificate of honesty
Almost every website, including fake ones, can show the padlock. It only means that data in transit is encrypted. It says nothing about whether the seller will ever send your order.
3. Look for real business details
- A physical address, a working phone number and an email address on a domain that matches the shop's name.
- Clear terms for returns, refunds and delivery time.
- An "About" page that explains who runs the business, rather than generic text.
4. Be wary of prices that are too good
If the same product costs far less than on any major marketplace, ask why. "Clearance sale", "last stock" and countdown timers are classic pressure tactics.
5. Search for the shop outside its own pages
Type the shop's name along with the word "complaint" or "review" in a search engine. Look at what customers say on independent sites and in social media comments. A brand-new page with only perfect reviews, all posted on the same day, is a warning sign.
6. Choose the safest way to pay
- Cash on delivery protects you if you check the parcel before you pay.
- Credit card payments carry some dispute options with your bank.
- Be careful with direct UPI payments to a personal account. Never approve a "collect" request that you did not expect. Our guide on UPI scams explains the tricks in detail.
7. Beware of messages that move you off the platform
If a seller on a marketplace asks you to continue the deal on WhatsApp or to pay outside the platform, you lose the platform's buyer protection. This is one of the most common tricks.
8. Keep evidence
Save the advertisement, the order confirmation, screenshots of the product page and any chat. If something goes wrong, this evidence supports your complaint.
If you have already been cheated
- Contact your bank or payment app immediately and report the transaction.
- Call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in.
- For disputes with sellers, the National Consumer Helpline is another option; check the official portal for its current contact details.
Quick answers
Is a seller with many followers safe? Followers can be bought, so check reviews from independent sources.
Are apps safer than websites? Only if they come from the official store listing. See how to spot fake apps.
A five-minute test for any new shop
Type the shop's name along with the word "complaint" or "reviews" in a search engine and read results from outside the shop's own site. Look for the shop's address, GST number and a working phone number. Send a message with a simple question and see whether a human answers sensibly. If any of these checks fail, do not pay.
Prefer methods with protection
Cash on delivery or a payment on a well-known marketplace gives you more protection than a bank transfer to a stranger. For high-value items, ask for an invoice and keep screenshots of the product page, price and chat. If the seller pushes you to pay outside the platform, treat it as a red flag.
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