Methodology & FAQ

How it works

Every report is powered by Claude AI running 8–10 live web searches per domain. Here's exactly what we look for, how we weight it, and what you get back.

What happens when you scan a domain

01

Enter domain

You type any domain (e.g. acmeplumbing.com). No account needed.

02

Pay $1

Stripe processes the payment securely. We never store card details.

03

AI researches

Claude AI runs 8–10 live searches: reviews, filings, Reddit, press, technical checks, and more.

04

Get your report

10 graded dimensions, red/green flags, cited sources, and an overall A–F letter grade.

The 10 scoring dimensions

Each dimension is weighted independently. The weighted average produces the overall 0–100 score.

Business Legitimacy

18%

Is this a real, registered business? We check state filings, physical addresses, verifiable phone numbers, BBB registration, and whether contact information is consistent across sources.

Business registration recordsBBB accreditation statusAddress verificationPhone & email consistency

Online Reputation

15%

What do customers actually say? We search Google Reviews, Trustpilot, Reddit, Yelp, and industry-specific review platforms — looking at sentiment, recency, and response patterns.

Google review sentimentTrustpilot profileReddit mentionsBBB complaint history

Visual Design

14%

Does the site look current, intentional, and credible? We evaluate layout, typography, hierarchy, polish, mobile presentation, and whether the visual system supports trust.

Visual hierarchyTypography qualityMobile presentationBrand consistency

UX / Conversion

12%

Can a visitor quickly understand what to do next? We check call-to-action clarity, navigation friction, form design, speed of task completion, and whether the flow matches buyer intent.

CTA clarityNavigation frictionForm usabilityPurchase / inquiry path

Transparency & Disclosure

10%

Does the site tell you what it is? We look for clear pricing, refund policies, terms of service, privacy policies, and honest representation of the company and its owners.

Pricing clarityRefund / cancellation policyPrivacy policyTerms of service

Financial Signals

3%

Is there evidence of real financial activity? We look at funding history, Crunchbase records, press coverage of revenue milestones, and signals of financial stability or distress.

Funding roundsCrunchbase profileRevenue press coverageFinancial distress signals

Technical Health

8%

Does the site operate like a legitimate business? HTTPS enforcement, page speed, uptime history, security headers, and basic infrastructure quality are all evaluated.

HTTPS & TLS validityPage load performanceSecurity headersUptime history

Domain & Company Longevity

5%

How long has this site and company existed? Domain age, Wayback Machine history, and consistent business presence over time all indicate lower scam risk.

Domain registration ageWayback Machine historyBusiness founding dateConsistent presence

Content Quality

8%

Does the content reflect a real expert operation? We look for depth, original research, author credentials, and evidence-backed claims — versus thin, copy-pasted, or AI-spun filler.

Content depth & originalityAuthor expertise signalsCited sourcesAccuracy indicators

Social & Press Presence

7%

Is there a real community around this brand? We check LinkedIn, X/Twitter, YouTube, and press mentions — distinguishing genuine engagement from ghost accounts or purchased followers.

LinkedIn company pageX/Twitter activityYouTube presencePress & news mentions

What each grade means

A+ / A90–100

Exceptional

Strong trust signals across almost every dimension. Very low risk.

A− / B+75–89

Strong

Solid credibility with minor gaps. Converts well but some signals missing.

B / C55–74

Average

Adequate presence but gaps in transparency, reputation, or technical health.

D / FBelow 55

At Risk

Red flags outweigh green signals. High caution warranted before engaging.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a scan take?

Most scans complete in 60–120 seconds. Claude AI runs 8–10 live web searches in parallel, then synthesizes the results into a graded report. Complex or obscure domains may take slightly longer.

Is the $1 charge refundable?

Yes — if the scan fails to produce a report, you are automatically refunded in full within a few business days. We do not offer refunds for completed reports, as the AI research has already been performed.

How is the overall score calculated?

Each of the 10 dimensions is scored 0–100 and then multiplied by its weight. The weighted sum produces the overall score (also 0–100). The letter grade (A+ to F) maps to score tiers: A+ ≥ 95, A ≥ 90, B+ ≥ 85, and so on.

Can I run a scan on any website?

Yes — any publicly accessible domain. Government sites, personal blogs, major platforms, local businesses, and new startups all work. The quality of the report depends on how much public information exists about the domain.

Is the report stored? Can I share it?

Your report is stored at a permanent URL tied to your scan ID. Anyone with the link can view it. Reports are not indexed by search engines by default.

Does a low score mean the site is a scam?

Not necessarily. Low scores often reflect thin online presence, young domains, or missing transparency signals — common for new businesses that haven't yet built up a track record. A high score indicates strong trust signals, not a guarantee.

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Any domain · $1 · No account · Results in ~90 seconds

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