Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so

Statesman.com is owned by the Austin American-Statesman, a well-established newspaper under the Hearst corporation. It receives about 4.15 million monthly visits, primarily from the United States (over 90%). The website uses reputable technology platforms like Amazon Web Services, Adobe Marketing Cloud, and Google Analytics, and maintains a valid SSL certificate issued in October 2025. Domain records show it is registered via CSC Corporate Domains, Inc., with multiple authoritative name servers. The brand 'Statesman' has several trademark registrations with mixed active and expired statuses but no direct conflicts found. There are no listings on crypto scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing, indicating no detected technical risks. However, customer feedback reveals numerous complaints about subscription delivery, refund processes, costly auto-renewals, and poor customer service response, suggesting issues with business practices. No lawsuits are associated with the website domain itself.

Confidence Score

78%

Risk Insights

🛡️

Strong Technical Foundation

Uses Amazon AWS for hosting and delivery

Has valid HTTPS certificate issued in October 2025

Employs multiple reputable analytics and advertising platforms

⚠️

Customer Service Issues

Frequent complaints about subscription delivery and cancellations

Reports of unauthorized billing and poor refund handling

Negative feedback impacts user trust

Contradictory Signals

While the domain and technology setup is sound, user experience is marred by service issues.

Signal A: Domain technical and ownership signals show legitimacy

Signal B: Customer reviews and BBB complaints suggest business practice problems

Category Scores

Identity 90/100

Reputation 50/100

Technical 85/100

Content 75/100

Legal 80/100

Business Validity 45/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Numerous customer reports of delivery issues and difficulty canceling subscriptions indicate potential business practice concerns.
Complaints of unauthorized charges and poor customer support response may impact reputation and user trust.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Technical Infrastructure

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Multiple paid and free technology services are deployed, indicating investment in reliable platform infrastructure."

Reason: The site uses well-known hosting providers like Amazon AWS and has valid SSL certificates, signaling strong technical legitimacy.

Traffic Volume and Geography

Score: 85/100

Passed

"Traffic metrics from SimilarWeb confirm significant engagement and authentic user base."

Reason: Statesman.com receives over 4 million monthly visits, mostly from the US, aligning with its media publishing role.

Domain Ownership and Registration

Score: 85/100

Passed

"Name servers and MX records are consistent with a corporate media entity."

Reason: Clear registrar information and long-standing domain registration indicate legitimate ownership.

Blacklist and Security

Score: 90/100

Passed

"SSL valid and domain not flagged for phishing or malware."

Reason: No listings on crypto scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing, reducing risk of technical threats.

Trademark and Brand Verification

Score: 75/100

Passed

"Trademark records reviewed do not show active infringement issues."

Reason: Several trademark registrations with mixed live and expired statuses exist, but no conflicting brand impersonation risks detected.

User Complaints and Reputation

Score: 35/100

Failed

"Complaints lodged on BBB and user reviews highlight recurring business practice concerns."

Reason: Multiple user reports indicate challenges with subscriptions, refunds, and customer service.

Legal and Compliance

Score: 80/100

Passed

"No legal risks to domain operations detected."

Reason: No lawsuits linked to the domain; legal disputes relate to physical property redevelopment only.

Your Next Steps

1

If engaging with Statesman.com, carefully review subscription terms before committing.
2

Keep detailed records of any subscription or billing communications.
3

Consider contacting customer service multiple ways to confirm cancellations or refunds.
4

Monitor for any unexpected charges and dispute them promptly.
5

Use official contact emails found on the website for queries or complaints.

Evidence & Citations

Website technical and traffic data via SimilarTech
Technical infrastructure and monthly traffic information is from SimilarTech analysis.
Domain analytics and traffic overview from SimilarWeb
Traffic volume, geographic distribution, and category ranks sourced from SimilarWeb.
Domain WHOIS records and SSL certificate status
Registration and DNS data verified for legitimacy.
Crypto Scam Sniffer blacklist check
No blacklist flags found.
Better Business Bureau and public complaint summaries
Customer complaints regarding delivery, billing, and customer service issues.
News mentions and recent articles
Current news coverage from Austin American-Statesman.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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