Domain Due Diligence
Report for Instacart.com
Β Why we think so?Β
Instacart.com is a well-established grocery delivery platform primarily serving the U.S. market, with over 35 million monthly visits and a global rank near 1,000. Its website uses reputable hosting and marketing technologies from Amazon, Google, and others, reflecting strong technical infrastructure. Verified domain registration dates back to 1996, with legitimate organization and contact information. However, multiple customer complaints and media reports highlight issues with unauthorized charges, order non-delivery, and difficulty resolving disputes, leading some users to report significant financial losses. The company has faced legal settlements related to worker misclassification and consumer fee transparency. Despite these concerns, Instacart maintains a transparent online presence with social media and official contact emails, and no blacklist or Google Safe Browsing flags. Overall, the site appears authentic but users should exercise caution due to documented negative user experiences that pose financial risk.
Risk Insights
High Popularity and Traffic
- Over 35 million monthly visits globally
- Top-ranked grocery delivery site in U.S.
- Strong direct and search traffic sources
Established Technical Setup
- Uses trusted services like Amazon AWS and Stripe
- SSL valid and issued by Amazon authority
- Multiple content security standards in place
User Risk from Fraud and Service Issues
- Multiple user reports of order non-delivery and theft
- Significant financial loss reported by customers
- BBB and consumer sites show repeated complaints
Contradictory Signals
Despite technical legitimacy, user experience reveals financial risks.
Signal A: High traffic and reputable infrastructure
Signal B: Numerous user complaints and financial loss reports
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
- Documented cases of customers losing hundreds to thousands of dollars due to fraudulent shopper actions or unauthorized purchases.
- Legal settlements over misclassification of workers and consumer deception suggest past business practice concerns.
- Low Google Places rating (1.2/5) with six reviews indicates poor customer satisfaction in physical delivery services.
- Numerous BBB complaints about refunds, unauthorized charges, and dispute resolution difficulties reflect reputation risks.
π Detailed Checks & Analysis
Domain Age and Ownership
Score: 15/100
Domain Age and Ownership
"Long domain history and clear registrant organization reduce risk of scam."
Reason: The domain instacart.com was registered in 1996 and is owned by Maplebear Inc., indicating long-term, consistent ownership.
Website Traffic and Popularity
Score: 15/100
Website Traffic and Popularity
"High traffic and strong U.S. presence suggest legitimate operation."
Reason: The site ranks near 1,000 globally with about 35.7 million monthly visits, confirming high usage and trust.
Technical Infrastructure
Score: 15/100
Technical Infrastructure
"Established tech stack supports secure and reliable service."
Reason: Uses reputable technologies and services like Amazon AWS, Google Marketing Platform, Stripe payments, and CloudFlare.
Contact Information Availability
Score: 10/100
Contact Information Availability
"Easy to verify identity and contact company reduces scam risk."
Reason: Official contact emails and multiple verified social media profiles are publicly available.
Blacklist and Security Checks
Score: 50/100
Blacklist and Security Checks
"No technical blacklisting found."
Reason: No signs of domain listed on crypto scam blacklists or flagged by Google Safe Browsing.
User Complaints and Fraud Reports
Score: 70/100
User Complaints and Fraud Reports
"Negative user experiences and fraud reports reduce trustworthiness."
Reason: Numerous reports of unauthorized charges, order theft, and poor refund handling raise consumer risk.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
Score: 50/100
Legal and Regulatory Issues
"Legal actions suggest past compliance issues worth noting."
Reason: Recent settlements for worker misclassification and consumer deception indicate operational challenges.
Customer Ratings and Reviews
Score: 50/100
Customer Ratings and Reviews
"Poor service ratings affect reputation score."
Reason: Low Google Places rating (1.2/5) and many BBB complaints indicate customer dissatisfaction.
Your Next Steps
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1
Be cautious when placing orders; double-check charges and receipts carefully.
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2
Use official app or website only to avoid phishing or scam sites.
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3
Report unauthorized charges or suspicious activity promptly to Instacart and your payment provider.
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4
Consider monitoring financial accounts linked to Instacart closely to detect fraud early.
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5
Review customer feedback and recent news to stay informed on potential service issues.
Evidence & Citations
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Instacart Technology and Traffic Stats
Data on technology stack and monthly visits
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Instacart Website Analytics by SimilarWeb
Traffic volume, global rank, and geographic distribution
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Instacart WHOIS and SSL Details
Domain registration and SSL status
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Instacart Contact Emails and Social Media Profiles
Verified company contact information
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Instacart Fraud and Loss Reports
Reported customer financial losses and unauthorized charges
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Legal Settlements Involving Instacart
Settlement details for worker misclassification and consumer disputes
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Instacart Google Places Ratings and Reviews
Customer ratings for delivery services
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