In an era where new online shops and platforms launch every minute, distinguishing between a legitimate business and a “fly-by-night” scam is difficult.
The ScamSonar Trust Score is an automated metric designed to give you an immediate, data-backed assessment of a website’s credibility. We don’t just guess; we aggregate specific technical and social signals that are historically difficult for scammers to fake.
Here is exactly how our 0-100 Trust Score is calculated.
How is the Trust Score Calculated?
Our algorithm analyzes six core pillars of a website’s digital presence. A website starts with a baseline score, and points are added (or subtracted) based on the following verified data points:
1. Domain Age & History
The single biggest indicator of a potential scam is a domain name that was registered very recently (e.g., within the last 30 days). Legitimate businesses usually take time to build.
- New Domains: Websites less than 30 days old receive 0 points for age.
- Established Domains: Websites older than one year receive the maximum points for this category.
2. Domain Stability
Scammers often purchase domains for only one year to save money, planning to abandon them once they are caught.
We look at the expiration date. If a domain is registered for multiple years in advance, or has survived for several years already, it signals a long-term commitment. This adds significant points to the stability score.
3. Server Status & Security
A legitimate business keeps its digital doors open.
- Uptime: We verify that the website is reachable and responding correctly.
- SSL Encryption: We check for valid SSL (HTTPS). In 2024, no legitimate store operates without encryption. If a site is online and secure, it gains baseline points.
4. Digital Footprint
Scammers frequently use “cookie-cutter” templates and forget to create essential pages.
- Legal Pages: Our scanner looks for “Privacy Policy,” “Terms of Service,” or “About Us” pages. The absence of these is a major red flag.
- Contact Info: We scan for contact identifiers. A store with no clear way to contact support is considered high-risk.
5. Social Media Presence
A real brand interacts with its customers.
We scan the website for links to major platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn. We only award points if the site links to a specific profile, indicating they manage an active community.
6. External Reputation
What are real customers saying?
We pull the current rating from Trustpilot.
This is the heaviest weighted factor. A high rating (4-5 stars) significantly boosts the Trust Score, while a low rating will drag even a technically sound website down.
What Do The Scores Mean?
- 0 – 59 (Suspicious): Proceed with extreme caution. The site may be brand new, lack essential contact info, or have poor reputation. We generally advise against spending money on these sites.
- 60 – 100 (Legit/Trustworthy): The website has passed our technical checks, has a verified history, and maintains a digital footprint consistent with a legitimate business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a scam website have a high Trust Score?
Yes, it is possible. Sophisticated scammers sometimes set up technically perfect websites to fool automated algorithms. This is why the “Verdict” section is crucial. We perform manual checks before publishing reviews. Even if a website passes our technical legitimacy tests with a high score, our team may still flag it as Suspicious if we uncover evidence of selective scamming or fraudulent behavior. Always prioritize the Verdict over the numerical score.
How often is the data updated?
Our system performs periodic checks on all listed websites. If you suspect data is outdated, you can use the “Update Now” button (when available) to request an immediate re-scan of the website’s status, social footprint, and reputation.