Understanding Website Trust Scores
A website trust score is a numerical rating from 0 to 100 that estimates how trustworthy a website is, based on automated analysis of verifiable security, technical and transparency signals. Think of it as a credit score for websites: no single input decides it, but the weighted combination is a strong predictor.
What a trust score measures
SiteReviewChecker's score is built from 24+ signals in four weighted categories, totalling exactly 100 points:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Domain reputation — age via RDAP, TLD abuse rates, typosquatting, registrar transparency | 35 pts |
| Connection security — valid HTTPS, trusted certificate, HSTS, security headers | 25 pts |
| Email & DNS — MX records, SPF, DMARC, DKIM | 20 pts |
| Transparency & content — live content, contact info, privacy/terms/about pages, structured data | 20 pts |
Domain reputation carries the most weight because domain age is the single strongest statistical predictor of fraud — most scam sites are days or weeks old. The full point breakdown, signal by signal, is on our methodology page.
Score ranges explained
Hard ceilings: why some sites can't score high
Scammers can trivially obtain free HTTPS certificates and publish professional-looking content, so those signals alone never produce a high score. Our model applies hard ceilings: a domain under 30 days old cannot exceed "Suspicious"; a new domain on an abuse-prone TLD is capped in the "Likely Scam" band; and a name that closely imitates a major brand is capped regardless of its other signals.
Why trust scores matter — and their limits
US consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023 (FTC), much of it through convincing fake websites. A trust score compresses the checks most people never do — RDAP lookups, DNS record inspection, certificate validation — into an instant, readable verdict.
But automated analysis measures infrastructure, not intent. It cannot read reviews, test customer service or detect a fraudulent business running on old, well-configured infrastructure. Use the score as a strong first filter, then apply the manual checks in our complete website safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good website trust score?
On SiteReviewChecker’s 0–100 scale, 71–85 indicates a probably legitimate site and 86–100 a highly trusted one. Scores of 51–70 warrant caution, 31–50 are suspicious, and 0–30 are likely scams. Most established brands score above 85 because they combine an old domain, valid TLS, full email authentication and complete transparency pages.
Can a scam website have a high trust score?
It is unlikely but not impossible. Automated scores measure verifiable infrastructure signals, not intent. SiteReviewChecker applies hard ceilings to limit the risk: a domain under 30 days old cannot score above "Suspicious", and a domain that closely imitates a major brand is capped regardless of its other signals. Always combine a score with your own judgment.
Why does domain age matter so much in a trust score?
Because it is the strongest statistical predictor of fraud. Scam domains are typically registered days before use and abandoned once blocklisted, while legitimate businesses hold domains for years. That is why Domain Reputation is the largest category in our model at 35 of 100 points, with up to 18 points for age alone.
Sources
- SiteReviewChecker scoring methodology — full signal-by-signal point breakdown
- FTC — Nationwide fraud losses top $10 billion in 2023
- IETF RFC 9083 — RDAP (registration data lookup)
Try it: use SiteReviewChecker to check any website's trust score in seconds.