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class="breadcrumb-link" href="/en/shopping-internet.html" title="Shopping & Internet"><span class="breadcrumb-text">Shopping & Internet</span></a></li><li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page"><span class="breadcrumb-text">How to check the trustworthiness of an online seller?</span></li></ol></div></nav><div id="page-content" class="bp-page-content main-section"><div class="section section-default"><div class="container"><div id="c8445" class="frame frame-default frame-type-text frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><header class="frame-header"><h1 class="element-header "><span>How to check the trustworthiness of a website?</span></h1><p class=""><time datetime="11-02-2025">11 February, 2025</time></p></header><p><strong>You should always know from whom you are buying online. How? By checking the “legal notice” or “general terms of use” on the seller’s website. Their full contact details as well as other detailed information should be recorded there. Follow our tips to verify the trustworthiness of your online seller and to avoid falling for a scam.</strong></p></div></div></div><div id="c8446" class="frame frame-default frame-type-list frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div data-mail-url="mailto:" data-orientation="horizontal" data-theme="standard" data-services="["twitter","linkedin","whatsapp","mail","print"]" data-lang="en" class="shariff"></div></div></div></div><div id="c12132" class="frame frame-default frame-type-image frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div class="gallery-row"><div class="gallery-item gallery-item-size-1"><figure class="image"><picture><source data-variant="default" data-maxwidth="1100" media="(min-width: 1200px)" srcset="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/Media/Bilder/Achats/AdobeStock_484692596.jpg"><source data-variant="large" data-maxwidth="920" media="(min-width: 992px)" srcset="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/Media/Bilder/Achats/AdobeStock_484692596.jpg"><source data-variant="medium" data-maxwidth="680" media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/Media/Bilder/Achats/AdobeStock_484692596.jpg"><source data-variant="small" data-maxwidth="500" media="(min-width: 576px)" srcset="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/_processed_/a/6/csm_AdobeStock_484692596_cd9ef08ea7.jpg"><source data-variant="extrasmall" data-maxwidth="374" srcset="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/_processed_/a/6/csm_AdobeStock_484692596_859cf29f12.jpg"><img loading="lazy" title="Prouver son identité pour acheter en ligne" alt="A man touches the screen in front of him to validate his fingerprints" src="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/fileadmin/Media/Bilder/Achats/AdobeStock_484692596.jpg" width="599" height="351"/></picture><figcaption class="caption">Make sure you can trust the online seller from which you are going to buy.</figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div></div><div id="c8448" class="frame frame-default frame-type-text frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><header class="frame-header"><h2 class="element-header "><span>Tips to assure the seriousness of the seller</span></h2></header><p>Before purchasing something on a foreign online shopping website, check:</p><h3>The name and contact information of the seller </h3><p>You should find them in the legal information of the website or in the terms and conditions.</p><h3>The mailing address</h3><p>Type the address you found on the seller’s website in a search engine and <strong>search street views.</strong> If it shows you a brownfield, a residential neighbourhood, or any other strange place for a company that sells this type of product, move on to a different seller.</p><h3>The URL</h3><p>If the website has a name or URL that doesn't correspond to the goods sold on the website, it is not a good sign!</p><div class="well"><p><em><strong>Example</strong>: The URL refers to the name of a construction company or sports activities when you thought you were buying clothes online!</em></p></div><h3>The general terms and conditions of sale</h3><p>You should be able to find them easily, often at the very bottom of the website. Make sure they are written in a clear and understandable way. If you notice any gaps in the text or generic terms, this should alert you. The seller has probably used a template without making any effort to adapt the terms of use.</p><div class="well"><p><strong><em>Example</em></strong>: <em>Welcome and thank you for using a service provided by [insert company’s name] and registered at [insert company’s address].</em></p></div><h3>Telephone number</h3><p>If the website displays a phone number, call it! Avoid premium-rate telephone numbers. Ask for additional information on the product, the after-sale service, or the delivery condition. How your demand is dealt with will give you a first impression of the seriousness of your seller.</p><h3>The quality seals</h3><p>The website might display a <a href="/en/achats-internet/acheter-en-ligne-responsable/how-to-find-eco-friendly-products-online.html">quality seal</a> or brand of trust. Find out about the rules of the award and the services and guarantees it offers.</p><h3>French spelling</h3><p>If the site is written in a broken form of French (misspelling, a poor grasp of the language, etc.), run away!</p><h3>Other sites and online reviews</h3><p>Other buyers may have <a href="/en/shopping-internet/online-reviews.html">given their opinions</a> on your seller and their bad experiences, if any.</p></div></div></div><div id="c12133" class="frame frame-default frame-type-text frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><header class="frame-header"><h2 class="element-header "><span>When you buy on a marketplace</span></h2></header><p>Did you find your dream product at a bargain price on a <a href="https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/en/shopping-internet/buying-from-an-online-marketplace.html" target="_blank">marketplace</a>? You only have to confirm and pay, but do you know exactly who you are buying from?</p><p>The EU regulation “<a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package" target="_blank">Digital Services Act</a>” imposes <strong>certain obligations on online marketplaces</strong> that are European or that target European consumers. These marketplaces must <strong>check the identity and contact details of the seller </strong>or professional service provider whose ads they are hosting.</p><p>So, wait before you order on a major e-commerce website! Make sure you can see the name, country of residence and contact details of the seller you selected. The seller may be completely foreign to the website. If you see that the<strong> information is incomplete </strong>or the reviews about this seller are negative, then it's best to move on to another seller.</p><p>Once you have identified your seller or service provider, go through our list of advice (see above). Go to <strong>the seller’s website </strong>to gather more information if necessary.</p><p>Any marketplace that doesn’t identify the professional sellers and service providers on its website may potentially be penalised. The fine imposed by the authorities can be up to 6% of the platform's annual worldwide turnover.</p></div></div></div><div id="c8449" class="frame frame-default frame-type-panel frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div class="card card-panel card-panel-warning"><h2 class="card-header "><span>Secure your payment on the Internet</span></h2><div class="card-body"><p>Before any online payment, check the <strong>security </strong>of the site of payment by the appearance of a <strong>closed lock symbol </strong>and with the letters “<strong>https</strong>” (instead of “http”). <strong>NEVER share the numbers</strong> written on <strong>your credit card!</strong></p></div></div></div></div></div><div id="c8452" class="frame frame-default frame-type-text frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><header class="frame-header"><h2 class="element-header "><span>If you still have doubts about your online seller</span></h2></header><p><strong>Check the web address of the site</strong> via <a href="https://who.is" target="_blank">WHOIS</a>, <a href="https://www.denic.de/home.html" target="_blank">DENIC</a> (for domain names ending with “.de”) <a href="https://www.afnic.fr/" target="_blank">AFNIC</a>  (for domain names ending with “.fr”) to determine who has registered that site and when.  If it is impossible to identify the owner, but only the host, be careful.</p></div></div></div><div id="c11262" class="frame frame-default frame-type-panel frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div class="card card-panel card-panel-danger"><h2 class="card-header "><span>And when it's too late?</span></h2><div class="card-body"><p>If you have already paid by card to a seller who has not respected his commitments, you can<strong> request a refund </strong>of the paid amount via the <a href="/en/paiements-vie-quotidienne/procedure-de-chargeback.html">"chargeback" procedure</a>, if your card has this protection.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div id="c8453" class="frame frame-default frame-type-list frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div data-mail-url="mailto:" data-orientation="horizontal" data-theme="standard" data-services="["twitter","linkedin","whatsapp","mail","print"]" data-lang="en" class="shariff"></div></div></div></div><div id="c10262" class="frame frame-default frame-type-text frame-layout-0 frame-background-none frame-no-backgroundimage frame-space-before-none frame-space-after-none "><div class="frame-container"><div class="frame-inner"><div class="well"><p>Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div><footer id="page-footer" class="bp-page-footer"><section class="section footer-section footer-section-content"><div class="container"><div class="section-row"><ul class="navbar-footer"><li><a href="/en/about-us.html" title="About us">About us<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a href="/en/media.html" title="Media">Media<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a href="/en/contact-us.html" title="Contact us">Contact us<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a href="/en/offres-demploi.html" title="Offres d'emploi | Centre Européen des Consommateurs France">Offres d'emploi<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a href="/en/sitemap.html" title="Sitemap">Sitemap<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a href="/en/legal-notice.html" title="Legal Notice">Legal Notice<span class="functional"></span></a></li><li><a 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