assistant: - **Trustpilot** (https://de.trustpilot.com/)
A popular site where users can review lesser known shops and tell others about their experiences.

- **Trusted Shops** (https://www.trustedshops.de/)
Trusted shops is an established german company listing trusted e-commerce shops. You can also search their lists of trusted or fake shops.
If you aren't german / european, maybe there are other regional alternatives for your area.

- **Online Forums**
If a google query doesn't give you the right answers, you can search through some other forums like reddit, if someone else ordered there.

- **Fakespot** (https://www.fakespot.com/)
Gives you an Amazon Addon for analysing user reviews, and might help you sort out sketchy sellers. An additional tip for buying amazon products: Look at all replies, and check if the product got listed multiple times.

Still, *be cautious*! If possible, don't rely on one source of reviews. If you ever bought something from a fake shop it depends on your countries laws if and how you can get your money back by informing your bank, etc.
If a site looks sketchy, unprofessional or odd in other ways, and you can't find any information about it online, it's a sign that it should be avoided if possible.

prompter: I checked the review sites and my shopping site always has 4.9 stars. This is great. It is also much cheaper. I have never seen such discounts.

assistant: It's great that the site you're considering has a high rating on review sites, but keep in mind that ratings can be manipulated or fake. It's also worth considering that extremely low prices can be a red flag for fraudulent activity. Before making a purchase, it's important to do your own research and take steps to protect yourself.

Some additional ways to check the trustworthiness of a site include:

- Checking the site's SSL certificate to ensure that your connection is secure
- Reading through the site's terms and conditions to understand their policies on refunds, returns, and privacy
- Searching for the site's name or URL along with keywords such as "scam" or "fraud" to see if any negative reviews or warnings come up
- Looking for contact information such as a physical address or phone number to confirm that the company is legitimate

Remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to online shopping. If something seems too good to be true, it might be a scam. It's important to prioritize your safety and security when making online purchases.

assistant: Hmm, that sounds a bit too good to be true. Some additional things to check:

How many reviews does the site have? If it's just a handful, they could be fake. Legitimate sites will have hundreds or thousands of reviews.
Do the reviews sound genuine? Fake reviews often sound overly enthusiastic and generic. Check for specific details and experiences.
Is the site securely encrypted? Look for "https" in the URL and a lock icon in the address bar. Unencrypted sites are not safe for payments.
What payment methods do they accept? Reputable sites will accept major credit cards and PayPal. Avoid sites that only accept wire transfers, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency.
Does the site have a verified business address and contact information? Legitimate businesses will have this clearly listed.
Is the product significantly cheaper than elsewhere? If it's a very popular or in-demand item, prices won't differ too much between sites. Large discounts could indicate counterfeit products.

If anything seems off, it's best to avoid the site altogether. When in doubt, shop from a well-known and established retailer.