Red flags to watch for?

Yeah, checking how long a site’s been around is absolutely step one — but honestly, I’d go a bit deeper than just the domain age. Even a site that’s been up for six months can still be a scam if they’re cycling domains or piggybacking on some old expired name. You gotta look at the WHOIS data, specifically the creation date and whether the registrant info actually matches the vendor. If the domain was registered last week and they’re already claiming to be “established,” that’s a huge red flag.

Beyond age, there are a few other signals I watch for. Shady payment methods are a big one — if they only take crypto and won’t even consider escrow, that’s a risk. Also, take a close look at the grammar and design of the site. Real vendors with a decent reputation usually put some effort into their copy and layout. Scam sites often have broken English, stock photos, or generic templates you’ve seen before. Another pattern I’ve noticed is the “too good to be true” pricing. If everything is half the market rate and there’s zero reviews outside their own site, that’s a classic exit scam setup.

To protect yourself, always cross-reference the vendor on at least two independent forums. Check the date stamps on reviews, not just the number. New accounts posting glowing reviews on the same day the site launches? That’s a coordinated shill. Also, start with a small test order before you go all in. If they ghost you on that, walk away. Trust your gut — if something feels off, it usually is. There’s no shortage of legit options out there, so don’t let urgency make you skip the homework.

Verified vendors have a track record. Stick with those

If theres no way to contact support thats a big red flag