BeforeYouPay
BeforeYouPay guides

Check first. Learn what matters.

Practical, evidence-led guidance for evaluating websites, sellers, prices and payment requests before money changes hands.

Website safety

How to check if a website is legit

Domain, identity, policy and payment warning signs.

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Seller verification

How to verify an online seller before paying

A repeatable seller check before sending money.

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Payment safety

How to choose a safer online payment method

Compare recovery options before choosing how to pay.

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Scam prevention

Website fraud checker

Run a website fraud check and review domain, business, policy, payment and community-report signals before paying an online seller.

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Scam prevention

Is this website legit?

Check whether a website looks legitimate by reviewing its domain history, business identity, policies, reputation and payment protections.

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Scam prevention

Check an online store before you buy

Check online store safety using seller identity, product evidence, fulfilment policies, payment protection and scam-report signals.

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Scam prevention

Online seller scam checker

Check an online seller using identity, contact, listing, payment-recipient and community-report evidence before sending money.

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Scam prevention

Phone number scam checker

Check a phone number format, country and matching community reports without exposing the complete number publicly.

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Scam prevention

Fake payment screenshot checker

Review a suspicious payment screenshot while verifying the transaction inside the official bank or wallet account.

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Scam prevention

Product price scam checker

Compare a product offer with the market and identify price, condition, shipping and payment details that may hide purchase risk.

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Scam prevention

How to report a scam website

Learn what evidence to preserve, how to report a scam website and when to contact your payment provider or official authority.

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Scam prevention

Search scam reports before paying

Search moderated scam reports for matching websites, sellers and supported identifiers, then verify the transaction independently.

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Scam prevention

Online scam checker

Use website, number, seller-report, screenshot and price tools to review online purchase risk before sending money.

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Country scam guides

United States scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, card and marketplace payments before paying in United States.

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Country scam guides

Bangladesh scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and bKash, Nagad, bank transfer, cash on delivery and social-commerce payments before paying in Bangladesh.

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Country scam guides

India scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and UPI, Paytm, bank transfer and marketplace payments before paying in India.

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Country scam guides

United Kingdom scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and faster payments, card, marketplace and delivery payments before paying in United Kingdom.

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Country scam guides

Canada scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and Interac e-Transfer, card and marketplace payments before paying in Canada.

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Country scam guides

Australia scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and PayID, bank transfer, card and marketplace payments before paying in Australia.

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Country scam guides

United Arab Emirates scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and bank transfer, card, classified-ad and marketplace payments before paying in United Arab Emirates.

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Country scam guides

Saudi Arabia scam checker

Check websites, sellers, phone numbers and bank transfer, card, marketplace and delivery payments before paying in Saudi Arabia.

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Scam awareness

Common Online Shopping Scams and How to Avoid Them

Learn how to recognize common online shopping scams, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Fake Tracking Number Scams

Learn how to recognize fake tracking number scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Fake Invoice Scams

Learn how to recognize fake invoice scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Business Impersonation Scams and Lookalike Accounts

Learn how to recognize business impersonation scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Gift Card Payment Scams

Learn how to recognize gift card payment scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Bank Transfer Scam Protection Before Sending Money

Learn how to recognize bank transfer scam protection, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Crypto Payment Scam Warnings for Online Purchases

Learn how to recognize crypto payment scam warning, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Social Media Seller Scams

Learn how to recognize social media seller scams, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Instagram Shop Scam Warning Signs

Learn how to recognize Instagram shop scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

WhatsApp Seller Scam Checks Before Payment

Learn how to recognize WhatsApp seller scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Telegram Marketplace Scam Warning Signs

Learn how to recognize Telegram marketplace scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Fake Refund Scams and Overpayment Requests

Learn how to recognize fake refund scam, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Chargeback and Payment Dispute Preparation Guide

Learn how to recognize payment dispute preparation, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Seller Identity Verification Checklist

Learn how to recognize seller identity verification, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Domain Age as a Scam Signal

Learn how to recognize domain age scam signal, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

How to Detect Copied Product Photos in Listings

Learn how to recognize copied product photo detection, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

How to Detect Fake Reviews Before Buying

Learn how to recognize fake review detection, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Urgency and Pressure Tactics Used in Payment Scams

Learn how to recognize urgency scam tactics, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

Recovery Scams After You Lose Money

Learn how to recognize recovery scam warning, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Scam awareness

How to Preserve Scam Evidence Safely

Learn how to recognize preserve scam evidence, verify the transaction and preserve practical recovery options before sending money online.

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Website safety

12 red flags of a fake online store

Twelve warning signs that deserve a closer look.

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Recovery

What to do after paying a scam seller

Immediate steps after paying a suspected scammer.

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Payment safety

How to identify a fake payment screenshot

Why a screenshot never proves that money arrived.

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Marketplace safety

Facebook Marketplace scam warning signs

Safer checks for social-commerce buyers and sellers.

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Bangladesh

bKash and Nagad scam prevention guide

Practical bKash and Nagad payment precautions.

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Bangladesh

How to verify a bKash number before payment

What can and cannot be verified before sending money.

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India

Paytm and UPI scam prevention guide

UPI and Paytm precautions before approving payment.

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Price safety

How to compare product prices before buying online

Compare like-for-like offers and total purchase cost.

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Using BeforeYouPay

What “no scam reports found” actually means

Why an empty report search is not a safety verdict.

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