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ScamAdviser is a widely used tool for assessing website trustworthiness, but is it reliable?
I’ve used ScamAdviser over the years to check out if I can trust a site. It has its pros, cons, and quirks—so can you trust its assessment scores? Here’s what you need to know.
What Is ScamAdviser, and How Does It Work?
ScamAdviseris a tool that uses a domain trust rating system to help you evaluate the trustworthiness of websites. This system assigns scores from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of a site being safe and reliable.
The platform’s trust scores are based on a range of factors. Positive indicators that can boost a site’s score include its popularity, social media activity, positive user reviews, performance, and security features.
Meanwhile, negative indicators include being based in a high-risk country, hiding or disguising ownership details, and using a new domain. They might also include hosting on high-risk servers and using platforms that scammers can exploit, such as Shopify.
ScamAdviser’s trust score can change over time as new data is gathered, such as changes in the website’s content and infrastructure or new reviews.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that ScamAdviser itself isn’t a scam and has several factors supporting its legitimacy. For example, the site has:
There are heaps of fake sites presenting themselves as scam-busters, but ScamAdviser isn’t one of them. It’s legit.
3 Key Advantages of Using ScamAdviser
ScamAdviser offers several benefits for evaluating website safety:
1. Helps You Quickly Identify Potentially Fraudulent Sites
ScamAdviser offers quick trust ratings that allow you to assess site safety at a glance. To quickly assess a site, follow these steps:
For example, I examined MakeUseOf’s URL and discovered that the site has a trust score of 100.
2. Provides Detailed Site Information
The platform offers in-depth analysis and insights into a website’s credibility. So, beyond the trust score, you can scroll down and click theShow Detailed Analysisbutton to get a detailed review of a particular site. As you scroll further down, you’ll see additional facts about the site, such as company data, website data, and more.
However, the information on this page isn’t always accurate. While the stats on MakeUseOf are accurate, when I tried other websites, some details didn’t match. For example, I looked up Pixabay and found incorrect URLs.
3. Makes It Easy to Report Suspicious Websites
ScamAdviser allows you toreport shady websiteswith just a few clicks. This not only protects you and others but also helps improve the platform’s database.
To report a scam, click theReport a Scambutton in the top-right corner of the home page, enter the target site URL, and follow the on-screen steps.
2 Issues With ScamAdviser
While ScamAdviser is a helpful tool, it has its fair share of drawbacks:
1. Potential Inaccuracies Due to Algorithm Limitations
Despite its comprehensive approach, ScamAdviser’s algorithm may not always be accurate. Some people have complained about false positives, where legitimate sites receive low scores.
For example, aQuora usercriticized ScamAdviser for using an algorithm that mistakenly labeled their website as a commercial site. Additionally, ScamAdviser classified the site as a scam.
2. Negative Impact on Legit Websites That Are Considered “Scams”
There are claims on platforms like Quora and Reddit that ScamAdviser unfairly labels some legitimate websites as scams, damaging the reputation of sites and businesses.
For example, in the screenshot below, a reviewer expressed frustration that ScamAdviser is negatively impacting their business by labeling it suspicious. Despite being a USA-based company, ScamAdviser labeled it as a scam because it uses a server located in Germany.
Of course, there are tons of other people who have positive things to say about ScamAdviser. In fact, the tool is rated 3.4/5 stars onTrustpilot, which indicates a fairly decent reputation.
