Published on July 31, 2025 by Jelle Brink

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Shopify is a widely used ecommerce platform. Many people are searching for information about its safety and legitimacy. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is Shopify legit?”, you’re not alone.

This article examines whether Shopify is legit, explains security features, and highlights scams to watch for in 2025. The goal is to provide clear answers to common questions about Shopify's trustworthiness.

Table of Contents

• Is Shopify legit or a scam
• Why Shopify is safe and reliable
• 8 Shopify scams to watch out for
• How to protect yourself from Shopify scams
• How to verify if a myShopify store is legit
• What about fake Shopify earnings websites
• Growing confidently with Shopify

Is shopify legit or a scam?

Yes, Shopify is legit. The platform operates as a legitimate ecommerce solution that allows people and businesses to create online stores. Shopify has been in business since 2006 and powers millions of stores worldwide. Still, many first-time users ask: Is Shopify legit for new businesses? The answer remains yes, when used properly.

The company uses industry-standard security measures. These include PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, which represents the highest level of payment security certification. All Shopify stores also receive SSL/TLS encryption, which protects customer data during transactions.

Major brands trust Shopify for their online stores. Companies like Gymshark, Allbirds, and Heinz use the platform. Over 4 million merchants currently operate active stores on Shopify, demonstrating widespread adoption and trust in the service.

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Why Shopify is safe and reliable

Shopify maintains security through several key systems. The platform automatically applies security updates and patches when new threats emerge. This process happens without store owners needing to take action. These measures help answer the question: Is Shopify legit when it comes to security? Absolutely.

Built-in fraud detection tools monitor transactions for suspicious activity. These tools analyze purchase patterns and flag unusual behavior that might indicate fraudulent transactions.

The platform includes features for privacy regulation compliance. Store owners can access settings and tools that help meet requirements for GDPR, CCPA, and other data protection laws.

• Dedicated security team: Shopify employs security experts who monitor the platform for vulnerabilities
  
  

• App store vetting: Third-party apps undergo review before appearing in the Shopify App Store
  
  

• Regular security audits: The platform undergoes frequent security assessments to identify potential issues
  
  

These security measures work together to create a protected environment for both merchants and customers. Still wondering is Shopify legit enough to trust with your business? These features say yes.

8 Shopify scams to watch out for

While Shopify itself is secure, scammers target users within the platform's ecosystem. Understanding these scams helps protect against fraud. If you’re still asking, is Shopify legit if scams happen on it? Remember, the scams occur outside of Shopify's control, just like on any major platform.

Here are eight common schemes to recognize:

1. Shopify store duplicator schemes

Store duplicators copy legitimate Shopify stores to create fake versions. Scammers replicate the original store's design, product photos, and branding. They create similar web addresses to confuse customers.

These fake stores collect payments and personal information without delivering products. The original business often receives complaints about orders they never processed.

Warning signs include slight URL changes, poor image quality, and missing contact information. Always verify the store's web address and look for secure payment indicators before purchasing.

2. Triangulation fraud

This scam involves three parties: a scammer, a customer, and a legitimate merchant. The scammer creates a fake store and advertises products at attractive prices. When customers place orders, the scammer uses stolen credit card information to purchase items from real stores and ships them to the customer.

The customer receives their product but unknowingly participated in credit card fraud. The legitimate merchant faces chargebacks when the stolen card is reported.

• Unusually low prices: Products priced significantly below market value
  
  

• New stores: Recently created stores with limited history or reviews
  
  

• Generic product descriptions: Copy-pasted descriptions from other sites
  
  

3. Return ticket fraud

Scammers claim products were never delivered or arrived damaged to obtain refunds. They might send empty packages or lightweight items as fake returns. This fraud affects both merchants who lose products and money, and honest customers who face stricter return policies as a result.

Merchants can protect themselves by requiring return tracking numbers and inspecting returned items carefully.

4. Direct client schemes

These scams convince buyers or sellers to complete transactions outside Shopify's payment system. Scammers claim this approach saves fees or speeds up processing. However, completing payments outside the platform removes buyer and seller protections.

Legitimate transactions always use Shopify's official checkout and payment processing systems. Requests to pay through external methods or wire transfers indicate potential fraud. If you’re wondering is Shopify legit if scammers work around it? — yes, the platform is legit, but scammers will always look for loopholes outside it.

5. Switching schemes

Scammers purchase products, then claim they received different or inferior items. They return cheaper substitutes while keeping the original products. This allows them to obtain refunds while keeping valuable merchandise.

Store owners can document shipments with photos and use tamper-evident packaging to detect switching attempts.

6. Purchase order fraud

Fake purchase orders target merchants with requests for large bulk orders. Scammers provide false payment confirmations and request immediate shipping. They often create urgency by claiming tight deadlines.

Red flags include orders from unknown companies, requests for rush shipping, and payment methods that don't match standard business practices. Verifying large orders through direct contact helps prevent this fraud.

7. SEO spam tactics

Scammers offer fake SEO services promising quick ranking improvements for Shopify stores. They might also inject malicious links into store content, which can harm search rankings and compromise security.

Legitimate SEO work takes time and follows established practices. Unsolicited offers promising instant results often indicate scams.

8. Fake PayPal and earnings websites

Some websites display fake Shopify earnings screenshots to attract victims. These sites claim to reveal secret methods for generating income but actually collect personal information or charge fees for worthless information.

Genuine success stories appear on Shopify's official blog and established business publications. They don't require payment or personal information to access. If you ever doubt the platform's integrity, ask again: is Shopify legit compared to what these scammers offer? Absolutely.

How to protect yourself from Shopify scams

Protection against Shopify scams involves several practical steps. These measures help verify store legitimacy and secure transactions.

• Verify payment security: Look for PCI-compliant payment gateways like Shopify Payments, PayPal, or Stripe. These processors meet strict security standards for handling payment information.
  
  

• Check SSL certificates: The padlock icon in your browser's address bar indicates SSL encryption. This encryption protects data during transmission between your device and the store's servers.
  
  

• Review myShopify domains: Legitimate Shopify stores using the platform's default domain follow the format storename.myshopify.com. Unusual variations or additional characters might indicate fake sites.
  
  

Two-factor authentication adds security to Shopify accounts. Store owners can enable this feature in their account settings under the Security section. This requires a second verification step when logging in.

Customer reviews provide insight into store reliability. Check independent review sites and social media for authentic feedback. Fake reviews often lack specific details and appear in clusters over short time periods.

How to verify if a myShopify store is legit

Verifying myShopify store legitimacy involves checking several key indicators. The SSL certificate appears as a padlock icon in the browser address bar. This indicates the site encrypts data during transmission.

Contact information reveals store authenticity. Legitimate businesses provide clear contact details including email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses. Generic contact forms without specific information raise concerns.

Return and refund policies indicate professionalism. Clear, detailed policies suggest legitimate operations. Missing or vague policies might indicate problematic stores.

Customer reviews on independent platforms provide reliable feedback. Reviews appearing only on the store's website carry less weight than those on third-party review sites. If you're ever unsure, revisit the core question: is Shopify legit? These indicators help you make the call.

What about fake Shopify earnings websites

Fake earnings websites display fabricated income screenshots and success stories to attract victims. These sites often show dashboard images with large payment amounts or claim to reveal secret business methods.

Common tactics include requesting upfront payments for courses or software, demanding personal information to access "exclusive" content, and creating false urgency with limited-time offers.

Warning signs include unverifiable business information, testimonials that can't be traced to real people, and promises of guaranteed income. Legitimate business education doesn't guarantee specific earnings or require immediate payment.

Authentic Shopify success stories appear on the company's official blog and reputable business publications. These stories don't require payment to access and include verifiable business information. So, again: is Shopify legit when it comes to success stories? Yes, as long as you stick to real sources.

Growing confidently with Shopify

Shopify provides a secure foundation for ecommerce when users follow standard security practices. Regular monitoring of store settings and staying informed about new threats maintains this security over time.

The platform's reliability stems from its established security infrastructure and ongoing improvements. Users who understand potential scams and apply protective measures can operate confidently within the Shopify ecosystem. In short, is Shopify legit? Without a doubt — especially if you're informed and prepared.

Just as ecommerce security requires ongoing attention, website optimization also benefits from regular analysis. A comprehensive free live SEO analysis can identify technical improvements and ensure your site's foundation supports both security and search performance.

💡Try Shopify for 3 months for just 1 euro!