How to Tell if an Online Course or Ebook Is Legit

Online courses, ebooks and digital "programs" are everywhere, from dog training to woodworking plans to video software. Most are real products. Some are overhyped, and a few are outright scams. The trouble is that a polished sales page looks the same either way. This guide is a checklist you can run in about 15 minutes before you pay for any digital product. It draws on the FTC's consumer advice and the published policies of ClickBank, a large retailer for digital products. It is general information, not legal advice.

First, separate two questions

"Is it legit?" usually hides two different questions:

1. Is the sale honest? A real seller, a clear price, terms you can read and a refund route that works.
2. Is it right for me? Whether the content matches your level, your goals and how you like to learn.

You can check the first one before you buy. The second one you mostly find out by trying, which is why a working refund route matters so much.

The 10-point checklist

1. Can you identify the seller?

Look for a named person or company, a support email or ticket system, and terms of sale. Many sales pages also say which company processes the payment. For example, products sold through ClickBank usually say in the footer that ClickBank is the retailer. If you cannot find who is selling the product or how to contact them, stop there.

2. Is the creator's expertise checkable?

If the seller says they are certified, licensed or qualified, see whether the certifying body has a public directory. For example, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers has a public directory of certified trainers. The FTC notes that some scammers lie about credentials, so a quick search is worth it.

3. Do you know the full price?

Find the price on the order page itself, not only on the sales page. Check:

• Whether it is a one-time payment or a subscription, and how often it renews.
• Whether extra items are pre-ticked on the order form.
• What appears on the screens after checkout. Many digital products offer upgrades and add-ons there, and some of them are recurring. The FTC's advice is to be ready for the upsell and to stop and think when asked to pay more.

4. Is there a written refund policy, and who handles it?

A refund promise on a sales page is good. A refund route through the retailer is better. ClickBank's own return policy, for example, says it will, at its discretion, allow returns within 60 days of purchase for products it sells, and its help pages explain how to request a refund yourself. Our guide on how to get a refund on a ClickBank purchase has the steps.

5. Does it promise money, health results or certainty?

This is the biggest red flag. According to the FTC, a business or coaching offer that promises certain income, large returns or a "proven system" to make money most likely points to a scam, and no one can promise that you will make money with little risk. The same caution applies to health and weight claims that sound like a cure. A legitimate course promises to teach you something, not to deliver a result.

6. Is it pushing you to decide right now?

Ticking timers, "only today" prices and "this offer may end at any time" are classic pressure tactics. The FTC's advice is to take your time and talk to someone you trust. A real product will still be there tomorrow, and if the price rises, that is a cost you can weigh calmly.

7. Are the "values" and price anchors real?

Many sales pages list bonuses with a dollar "value" and show a high crossed-out price next to the real one. Those figures are set by the seller. Ignore them and judge what you would actually pay against what you would actually use.

8. How much weight do the testimonials deserve?

Testimonials on a sales page are chosen by the seller and describe individual experiences, not typical results. The FTC advises reading success stories with skepticism, since they can be fake or misleading. Since October 2024 the FTC's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials has banned businesses from creating, buying or knowingly spreading fake reviews and testimonials, and from passing off a company-controlled site as an independent review site. It helps, but it does not mean every testimonial you see is typical.

9. Who wrote the review you are reading?

Many online reviews, including the product notes on this site, are written by affiliates who earn a commission if you buy. That is legal when it is clearly disclosed, and the FTC expects the disclosure to be clear and placed before the recommendation. Look for the disclosure. If a review is glowing, has no disclosure and every link goes to the same order page, treat it as advertising. Also look for independent places, such as forums, where real buyers talk about the product.

10. Can you try something first?

Sample chapters, sample videos, sample plans or a trial tell you more than any sales page. If none exist, the refund window is your trial, so plan to use the product properly in the first week or two.

Red flags at a glance

• No named seller, no contact details, no terms.
• Income or health claims, or results described as certain.
• Timers and "today only" pressure.
• Huge "value" totals for bonuses.
• No refund policy, or one that is hard to find.
• Reviews that never mention a drawback.

How to pay

Pay with a method that gives you dispute rights. The FTC explains that the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute certain credit card billing errors, including charges for things that were not delivered as agreed, if your letter reaches the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent. Try the seller's or retailer's refund process first, keep your receipts, and only use a dispute if that fails.

After you buy

1. Save the receipt email and order number.
2. Put a reminder in your calendar about a week before the refund window closes.
3. Use the product properly in the first week or two.
4. If it is not for you, ask for the refund in writing, through the retailer if possible.

See the checklist in action

These posts apply the checklist to specific products. Each one says what could and could not be checked, and each one contains affiliate links, which are disclosed in the post:

• Is Pianoforall legit?
• Is Teds Woodworking legit?
• Is InstaDoodle legit?
• Is Brain Training for Dogs legit?

If you think you have been scammed, the FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.