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Domain Due Diligence
Report for Patch.com

Report Date January 8, 2026
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Suspicious
Why we think so

Patch.com is a large news network delivering local stories and events across the United States. It draws about 24.6 million visits per month, mostly from direct and search traffic, ranking roughly #2,900 globally and #600 in the US. The site uses established technologies and global content delivery services, indicating a solid web infrastructure. Despite its wide reach and legitimate domain registered since 1994, Patch.com faces numerous user complaints, mainly concerning customer service and content accuracy, earning an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau for failure to address complaints. Legal actions related to defamatory user-generated content have occurred, drawing attention to moderation challenges. There are no indications of phishing or scam activity linked to the domain. Contact information including emails and social media profiles are openly available, supporting transparency.

Confidence Score
63%

Risk Insights

📈

Large Traffic and Solid Backing

About 24.6 million monthly visits mainly from US users.
Uses Amazon AWS and other trusted tech services.
Domain registered in 1994 with valid SSL certificate.
⚠️

Customer Complaints and BBB F Rating

Multiple unresolved complaints on consumer review sites.
BBB cites failure to respond to 9 complaints as cause for F rating.
Potential risk in dealings requiring customer support.
🧾

Legal Risks from User-Generated Content

Involved in defamation lawsuit over anonymous user posts.
Moderation challenges may affect content trustworthiness.
Warning for sensitive or reputational inquiries.

Contradictory Signals

Despite legitimate setup and traffic, Patch.com struggles with customer dissatisfaction and legal disputes over content.

Signal A: Strong technical and domain legitimacy

Signal B: Poor reputation and unresolved complaints

Category Scores

Identity 85/100
Reputation 40/100
Technical 90/100
Content 50/100
Legal 50/100
Business Validity 75/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Multiple unresolved consumer complaints leading to an F rating by BBB.
  • History of lawsuits related to defamatory anonymous user posts shows moderation challenges.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain technical infrastructure and traffic

Score: 90/100
Passed

"This indicates strong technical legitimacy and a stable platform."

Reason: Patch.com uses a wide range of established technologies and content delivery networks supporting high traffic (~24.6M monthly visits).

Domain ownership and age

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Long domain age and secure setup reduce scam likelihood."

Reason: Registered in 1994 with a reputable registrar and using valid SSL certificates.

Blacklist and security flags

Score: 95/100
Passed

"Absence of blacklists supports domain safety."

Reason: No listings on crypto scam or phishing blacklists; no security risks detected.

Reputation and user reviews

Score: 40/100
Failed

"Customer service and content accuracy issues raise concerns."

Reason: Poor consumer ratings and multiple unresolved complaints at BBB with F rating.

Legal and content disputes

Score: 50/100
Failed

"Ongoing legal exposure for content warrants caution."

Reason: Involvement in lawsuits over defamatory user-generated content shows content moderation challenges.

Contact and transparency

Score: 80/100
Passed

"Transparency in contact information is a positive sign."

Reason: Publicly available emails and active social media profiles indicate openness to communication.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Approach Patch.com as a legitimate news source but be cautious of possible content inaccuracies or poor customer service.
  • 2
    Verify specific claims or advertisements on Patch.com with independent sources before acting on them.
  • 3
    If encountering issues, use the official support emails (e.g., support@patch.com) or contact forms to seek resolution.
  • 4
    Monitor user-generated content critically, as moderation issues have led to legal disputes in the past.

Evidence & Citations

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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