Guide · Updated 2026-10-15 · By the PayOrScam team
How to check a website's age (and why it matters)
Fraud sites are often created days or weeks before they're used. A real supplier that says it has traded for years should have a website that's been around for years.
Three free ways to check
Registration date: enter the domain at ICANN Lookup and read the "Created" date.
First HTTPS certificate: search the domain at crt.sh; the oldest "Not Before" date shows when the site first used HTTPS.
Archive history: enter the domain at the Wayback Machine; the calendar shows the first time the site was archived.
How to read the results
Under 6 months: treat with caution, especially for an "established" business.
6–12 months: fine for a new business, but check other signals.
Several years: reassuring, but an old domain can still be impersonated with a lookalike, so check the exact spelling.
Owner details are usually hidden ("redacted for privacy") since GDPR. That's normal and not a warning sign on its own.