Online shopping safety, from the seller check to the checkout page

The padlock icon in your browser means the connection is encrypted. That's all it means. The FTC points out that scam sites can use encryption too, so a padlock alone tells you nothing about whether the store will ever ship your order.

This section teaches a fuller check. Who is the seller, and can you find a real address and a working phone number? Is the return policy written out, or vague? Does the site push you toward wire transfers, gift cards or payment apps that offer no buyer protection? Do the reviews read like people, or like a template?

We also cover marketplaces, where the platform and the seller are often two different companies with two different sets of rules. Knowing which one handles your refund can save you weeks of back and forth.

Alongside our guides, we pull the latest FTC consumer alerts so you can see which scams are circulating right now.