Yes. Verified status is not permanent. A site can lose its badge if conditions change after the initial verification.
Conditions that trigger removal
Four situations lead to removal of the Verified badge:
| Condition | What triggers it |
|---|---|
| Confirmed scam reports | Multiple verified users report fraud and our investigation confirms it |
| Security downgrades | Expired SSL, removed 2FA, switch to non-PCI-compliant payment processor |
| Failure to cooperate | Site blocks re-checks, restricts test accounts, or stops responding |
| Trust Score drops below threshold | Sustained decline over an extended period (not a single bad day) |
How removal works
When any of these conditions are flagged, the site enters a review period. During this time:
- We notify the site operator with specific details about the flagged issue
- The operator has 14 days to respond and address the problem
- We conduct a fresh evaluation, including a new purchase test if the issue involves transaction integrity
- If the issue is resolved, the badge stays. If not, we remove it
Badge removal is visible to users immediately. The site's listing updates to show its unverified state. Past reviews and the Trust Score remain unchanged - only the Verified badge is affected.
Re-earning the badge
A site that loses verification can apply again through the standard request process. There is a 90-day waiting period after removal before a new request is accepted. The full verification process starts from scratch - no shortcuts for previously verified sites.