Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so

startselect.com is an established e-commerce platform based in the Netherlands, specializing in digital gift cards, games, and credits. The site receives around 1.7 million monthly visits, with a strong user base mainly from Germany, and supports multiple trusted payment methods like Apple Pay, PayPal, and major credit cards. Its domain has been registered since 2010 and features valid SSL certificates and robust DNS settings. While its technology and global traffic footprint demonstrate legitimacy, customer reviews reveal issues such as strict ID verification, regional restrictions on gift card redemption, and disputes over delivery and refunds. Startselect warns users about scammers exploiting the platform. Overall, it is a functional and widely used site but presents some operational risks for customers due to its verification policies and regional limitations.

Confidence Score

78%

Risk Insights

💳

Trusted Payment Options

Supports PayPal, Apple Pay, Credit Cards

These reduce financial risk for buyers

Common in legitimate online retailers

🛡️

Established Domain

Registered in 2010 with Eurodns registrar

Valid SSL certificate in place

Multiple DNS records improve reliability

⚠️

Customer Complaints Present

Issues with ID verification and refunds

Reports of regional code restrictions

Calls for caution when purchasing large amounts

Contradictory Signals

While startselect.com shows strong infrastructure and user engagement, operational and customer hurdles reduce overall trust confidence.

Signal A: High traffic and reputable payment integration

Signal B: Frequent customer complaints of delivery and verification issues

Category Scores

Identity 85/100

Reputation 60/100

Technical 90/100

Content 75/100

Legal 70/100

Business Validity 80/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Multiple users report losing money because of regional gift card restrictions and undelivered products requiring disputes (perplexity_questions_v1).
Stringent and sometimes repetitive ID verification causes transaction failures and user dissatisfaction (perplexity_questions_v1).
Customer service has mixed reviews with some describing it as unhelpful or generic in addressing complaints and refunds (perplexity_questions_v1).

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Age and Registrar

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Older domains and reliable registrars typically indicate legitimacy and reduce scam risks."

Reason: The domain has been active since 2010 and uses a reputable registrar, Eurodns S.A., which supports credibility.

Website Traffic and Engagement

Score: 80/100

Passed

"High and stable traffic suggests active and legitimate user engagement."

Reason: The site sees about 1.7 million visits monthly with consistent traffic mostly from Germany and surrounding countries.

Payment Methods

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Use of major payment processors helps reduce direct financial risk for users."

Reason: Supports multiple trusted payment options such as PayPal, Apple Pay and MasterCard, which provide some buyer protections.

Customer Complaints and Refunds

Score: 40/100

Failed

"Operational challenges and unresolved disputes can signal risk even if not outright fraud."

Reason: Reported issues with ID verification causing failed transactions, delivery problems and refund delays lower trust level.

Trademark Validity

Score: 70/100

Passed

"Registered trademarks support business legitimacy."

Reason: The STARTSELECT trademark is registered and in active status, confirming a formal business identity.

Scam or Blacklist Status

Score: 10/100

Passed

"Clean blacklist status improves confidence in domain safety."

Reason: No signs of blacklistings in crypto scam databases or Google Safe Browsing, indicating no known technical red flags.

Company Contact and Social Proof

Score: 70/100

Passed

"Accessible contacts and social presence are positive trust signals."

Reason: The site lists valid contact emails and maintains active social media profiles, aiding transparency.

Your Next Steps

1

Verify redemption region suitability before purchasing gift cards to avoid losses due to geographic restrictions.
2

Be prepared for identity verification requirements that may delay larger transactions.
3

Use secure payment methods with fraud protection such as PayPal or credit cards.
4

Monitor refund and dispute handling experiences to ensure satisfactory resolution before large purchases.
5

Report any suspected fraudulent activity encountered while using the platform to consumer protection agencies.

Evidence & Citations

Startselect on SimilarTech
Detailed technology, traffic, and payment platform data.
Startselect Domain WHOIS & SSL Info
Domain registration details and security certificates.
Startselect Trademark Registration
Official registration data for the STARTSELECT trademark.
Customer complaints & scam reports on Startselect
Aggregated user reviews highlighting ID checks, refund issues, and regional restrictions.
Crypto Scam Blacklist Status
No blacklist hits for crypto fraud.
Google Safe Browsing Status
No reported security threats.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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