Help & Safety Guide
This page explains how to use ScamWise Seniors and how to check a website for yourself. Take your time — there is no rush.
How to check a website with ScamWise
Enter the address
Type or paste the website address into the search box — for example, example-shop.com.
Press "Check Now"
We look the website up in our records and run a few quick safety checks for you.
Read the result
The colour tells you, at a glance, how much to trust the site. Here is what each one means.
What the colours mean
We have no record of problems with this website. It is reasonable to proceed, but stay alert as always.
There are some signs to be careful about. Slow down and do a few checks before you trust it.
This website has been reported as a scam or shows serious warning signs. We suggest you avoid it.
We do not have a record of this website yet. This is not a warning — just be sure to do your own checks.
How to check a website yourself
Our result is a helpful guide, but it is always wise to check for yourself too. Here are simple things anyone can do:
- Look closely at the web address. Scammers use look-alike names with small changes — an extra letter, a dash, or .net instead of .com.
- Check for a padlock and "https" at the start of the address. This helps, but a padlock alone does not prove a site is honest.
- Search the company name together with the word "scam" or "reviews" to see what other people say.
- Look for a real address and phone number. Be wary if the only way to contact them is a web form.
- Be careful of pressure: "act now", "only 2 left", or prices that look too good to be true.
- Never share passwords, PINs, or one-time security codes — a genuine company will never ask for them.
- When you pay, use a credit or debit card where possible. Avoid gift cards, or cryptocurrency to people you do not know.
How to report a scam
Seen a website that looks like a scam? Please tell us. Reporting is free and anonymous, and it helps protect other people. Use the Report a Scam page to send us the details.
Report a scamIf you think you have been scammed
- Contact your bank straight away if you have shared card details.
- Report it to your local police or your national fraud reporting service.
- Change any passwords you may have shared, and keep a note of what happened.
Please remember: ScamWise Seniors cannot recover money or refund payments, and we are not an emergency service.
Need more help?
If you still have questions, our Contact page lets you send a message and we will reply by email.