Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so

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.

Confidence Score

65%

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

Identity 80/100

Reputation 40/100

Technical 85/100

Content 60/100

Legal 50/100

Business Validity 70/100

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.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Age and Ownership

Score: 15/100

Passed

"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

Passed

"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

Passed

"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

Passed

"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

Passed

"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

Failed

"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

Failed

"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

Failed

"Poor service ratings affect reputation score."

Reason: Low Google Places rating (1.2/5) and many BBB complaints indicate customer dissatisfaction.

Your Next Steps

1

Be cautious when placing orders; double-check charges and receipts carefully.
2

Use official app or website only to avoid phishing or scam sites.
3

Report unauthorized charges or suspicious activity promptly to Instacart and your payment provider.
4

Consider monitoring financial accounts linked to Instacart closely to detect fraud early.
5

Review customer feedback and recent news to stay informed on potential service issues.

Evidence & Citations

Instacart Technology and Traffic Stats
Data on technology stack and monthly visits
Instacart Website Analytics by SimilarWeb
Traffic volume, global rank, and geographic distribution
Instacart WHOIS and SSL Details
Domain registration and SSL status
Instacart Contact Emails and Social Media Profiles
Verified company contact information
Instacart Fraud and Loss Reports
Reported customer financial losses and unauthorized charges
Legal Settlements Involving Instacart
Settlement details for worker misclassification and consumer disputes
Instacart Google Places Ratings and Reviews
Customer ratings for delivery services

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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