Domain Due Diligence
Report for Theathletic.com
Why we think so?
The website theathletic.com appears to be a legitimate sports news platform associated with The New York Times Company. It has substantial monthly visits (~559K) with a principal audience in the United States. The domain is well established since 2000, demonstrating technical stability with secure SSL certificates and reputable DNS providers. However, there is a significant and consistent pattern of customer complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) platform, highlighting issues related to unauthorized subscription charges, lack of renewal notifications, difficulties in cancellation, and unresponsive customer service. Legal disputes include a class action about auto-renewal disclosures and a privacy-related arbitration over user data sharing. No verified reports suggest users have lost money due to fraud, but consumer allegations indicate concerns about billing and cancellation practices. Users should approach with caution and carefully review subscription terms before engagement.
Risk Insights
Established Domain Ownership
- Registered since 2000 under The New York Times Company
- Clear registrant contact and organization info
- Linked to a known and respected media company
Customer Billing Complaints
- Multiple BBB reviews accuse unauthorized subscription charges
- Reports of lack of renewal notifications and refund denial
- BBB rating of D- due to unresolved complaints
Legal Actions Underway
- Class action lawsuit over auto-renewal billing disclosures
- Data privacy arbitration over sharing viewing history
- Ongoing disputes heighten caution advised
Contradictory Signals
While the domain is established and technically sound, consumer reports indicate significant trust issues with billing and customer service.
Signal A: Strong technical and identity signals
Signal B: Frequent user complaints and legal disputes
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
- Numerous BBB complaints describe unauthorized charges and denial of refunds, indicating suspicious billing behavior.
- Ongoing legal actions related to subscription billing and privacy policies indicate unresolved compliance and trust issues.
🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis
Identity verification
Score: 90/100
Identity verification
"Registrant information is clear with verified organization and contact details."
Reason: Domain ownership tied to The New York Times Company since 2000 confirms legitimate and stable identity.
Reputation assessment
Score: 50/100
Reputation assessment
"BBB rating is D- with unresolved complaints alleging deceptive billing and refund issues."
Reason: Customer feedback reveals numerous complaints about unauthorized charges and poor customer service.
Technical infrastructure
Score: 85/100
Technical infrastructure
"Technical data confirms secure, consistent infrastructure without red flags."
Reason: Website uses valid SSL, Cloudflare DNS, and standard advertising/tracking technologies common for established media companies.
Content quality
Score: 80/100
Content quality
"High traffic volume and user engagement support content legitimacy, with no scam-related content found."
Reason: The site provides substantial sports news content aligned with its described purpose.
Legal and compliance
Score: 40/100
Legal and compliance
"No scam verdict, but legal disputes may affect consumer trust until resolved."
Reason: Ongoing lawsuits and arbitration involving subscription renewals and privacy violations indicate legal risk.
Business validity
Score: 60/100
Business validity
"Consumer allegations and BBB rating suggest caution before engagement."
Reason: While technically legitimate and well-trafficked, business practices raise concern due to customer billing disputes.
Your Next Steps
-
1
Verify subscription terms and auto-renewal policies before subscribing.
-
2
Monitor official communications regarding legal case outcomes.
-
3
Avoid providing billing information without clear understanding of subscription conditions.
-
4
Report unauthorized charges to payment providers and BBB if suspected.
Evidence & Citations
-
Domain and technology profile for theathletic.com from SimilarTech
Provides detailed tech stack, domain age, and traffic data
-
Traffic and engagement statistics from SimilarWeb API for theathletic.com
Confirms substantial traffic and audience location.
-
Consumer complaints and reviews about The Athletic at BBB
Multiple user reports of billing and cancellation issues indicating possible fraud concerns.
-
Legal disputes against The Athletic relating to automatic renewals and data privacy
Discusses ongoing litigation and arbitration.
-
WHOIS registration details showing domain ownership by The New York Times Company
Verifies domain registration since 2000 and reputable ownership.
🕵🏻 Keep investigating
Run another instant due diligence scan on any website URL. Verify before you trust!
Vet suspicious ticket resale websitesScammers clone legitimate ticket exchanges or invent resale hubs that require wire transfers and Zelle deposits. ScamAI...
Read playbook → Check government tax refund portals for authenticityFraudsters spoof tax agencies during filing season, promising fast refunds if you hand over SSNs and card data. ScamAI p...
Read playbook →Community feedback
Not rated yet
0 reviews published
Leave a review
Reviews
No public reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.