Unlike reviews, registration records, or social media — domain age cannot be faked or purchased quickly. It requires actual time to pass. That makes it one of the most reliable automated trust signals available.
Why Scammers Use New Domains
When a fraudulent business gets reported, blacklisted, or shut down, it simply registers a new domain and starts over. This creates a pattern: scam operations almost always operate on domains less than 12 months old.
What Age Means
- Under 6 months: Very high risk — treat with extreme skepticism.
- 6–24 months: Moderate caution — possible new legitimate business.
- 2–5 years: Generally positive signal.
- 5+ years: Strong positive indicator of established presence.
Domain age alone doesn't guarantee legitimacy — but combined with state registration, Google reviews, and a BBB record, it creates a powerful composite picture.
Verify a Business Now
Run a full ProofScore check on any U.S. business in seconds.
Search a Business →