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Trusted Shops

Issued by Trusted Shops SE in Cologne. The seal has existed since 1999, and certified shops come with the issuer’s buyer protection.

The test takes one click. A genuine seal leads to a page of the issuer, and that page names your shop.

Genuine seal

Clicking the seal opens:

The page sits on the issuer’s domain. The path differs per shop, so the diagram shows only the domain. The page has to name the shop you are visiting.

Image without a link

Clicking the seal opens:

Nothing. The seal is only an image

Anyone can place the logo on a page. Without a link there is no proof, and the shop cannot back up the seal.

Schematic illustration. The logo is shown for recognition only, the shop in the diagram is made up.

At a glance

What sets Trusted Shops apart from the other seals: who issues it, what is checked behind it and how you recognise the proof.

IssuerTrusted Shops SE, Cologne
Since, region1999, DE / EU
TypeShop certification
ProofClicking the seal opens a Trusted Shops page with the shop data and reviews of this shop.

How to check whether it’s genuine

A genuine certificate sits on a trustedshops domain and shows the status “valid” (green) with reference to this shop.

  1. Click the seal in the shop. It must lead to a certificate on a trustedshops domain.
  2. Check the status there: it must be “valid” and name the shop you visited.
  3. Alternatively, look the shop up directly in the Trusted Shops shop search.
Trusted Shops: shop search

Verification route with the issuer: Trusted Shops SE, Cologne

Report misuse
Report a suspicion by email: service@trustedshops.com
Template for your notice

Addresses retrieved on 2 October 2026. Source: Trusted Shops: fake shops

What this seal checks

over 100 criteria across 6 areas

  • Identity and reachability of the retailer (transparent provider details, quick contact)
  • Secure, fully encrypted data transmission
  • Transparent right of withdrawal and return policy (at least 14 days)
  • Pricing including all delivery and additional costs, exclusion of problematic products
  • Understandable ordering process and audited customer service (minimum rating of 4.0 stars)
  • Ongoing monitoring of the company’s identity and solvency

Process

According to the provider, the seal cannot be bought. A shop must meet the criteria and comply with them permanently. The provider audits it before the seal is awarded.

Known forgery patterns

How the Trusted Shops seal is misused in shops.

  1. A typical case is the Trusted Shops logo as an image with no link, or with a link to a third-party page instead of a trustedshops certificate.
  2. Expired or withdrawn certifications are also reused.

Four checks apply to every seal, regardless of the provider. To the checks

Context on this seal

Buyer protection
For certified shops, Trusted Shops buyer protection secures the payment according to the provider. It is tiered from €100 (basic) through €2,500 up to €20,000 depending on the level, applies for 30 to 120 days and regardless of the payment method.
Cost for merchants
Chargeable for retailers (packages from around €119/month according to the provider, tiered by revenue). A paid seal is no proof of authenticity. What counts is a valid certificate with the issuer.

Is a shop entitled to carry this seal?

The shop check detects known seals and asks the issuer whether a valid certification exists. On top come the rest of the 39 check modules, each finding with its reasoning.

More trust seals

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Dennis Bölling, Founder · QAD SoftUpdated

Sources