To run an IP fraud score check, paste the proxy's IP into a free checker such as Scamalytics, IPQualityScore or ipinfo. Look at the IP type, the ISP, the location and any proxy or VPN flag first. Read the score last.
Do it right after you get the proxy and before you log in to anything. That way you know what the IP looks like, and you still have time to get a refund if the proxy fails a live test.
No score is a verdict. Each service has its own method, so the same IP can get a low number in one and a medium number in another.
Key takeaways
- A fraud or risk score is one company's estimate about an address, not a fact.
- Each service scores differently, so compare the details, not just the number.
- Look at IP type, ISP, location, proxy or VPN flags, then the score.
- A medium score is common and not a reason to panic. Test the real site instead.
- Check in the first hour. A fraud score is not a refund reason.
What fraud and risk scores are
A fraud score is a number, often from 0 to 100, that says how risky a service thinks an IP is. Websites and ad platforms may use similar data to decide how closely to look at a visitor. Higher usually means riskier.
The score comes from signals like the type of network the IP belongs to, whether it is known as a proxy or VPN exit, and what the service has seen from that range. Services don't publish all of it, and they don't share data with each other.
This is why "check IP reputation" has no single answer. A different checker means a different opinion. Use the score as a hint.
The checkers
You can use more than one. They look at different things.
- Scamalytics. Shows a fraud score from 0 to 100 with a risk level, plus the ISP, location and flags such as proxy, VPN or data center. Its scores may weigh the kind of network an address belongs to.
- IPQualityScore. Shows a fraud score and flags for proxy, VPN and Tor, along with connection type, ISP and location. Its free lookup is a quick way to see how the IP is classified.
- ipinfo. Shows the ISP or organisation behind the IP, its network type (ISP, business or hosting), and the location. On some views it also shows privacy flags such as VPN, proxy, hosting or relay. It is more of an identity card for the IP than a score.
What is shown can change by page and by account level, so you may see a bit more or less than described here.
What to look at
Go through these in order.
- IP type. Is it residential, mobile or hosting? It should match the proxy type you picked. A hosting IP is fine if you chose a hosting proxy. It will just look like a server to many sites.
- ISP. Does the provider name make sense for the country and type? A home ISP for a residential proxy, a carrier for a mobile one.
- Location. Country first, then region. The city can differ between databases. See why sites show a different city.
- Proxy or VPN flags. Some checkers mark known proxy ranges. Note it. It doesn't mean the IP will be blocked, only that the checker recognises it.
- Score. Read it last, and read it with the rest of the picture.
How to read a medium score
A medium score is a common result for a proxy IP, because many checkers rate IPs partly by network type. It doesn't mean the IP is "bad", and it doesn't mean it is safe.
Think about what you plan to do:
- For checking prices, search results or listings, a medium score rarely matters.
- For logging in to accounts, the score is one signal among many. Your browser profile, your timezone and your behaviour count as well.
- If a site you use blocks the IP, go through the proxy works but the site blocks you checklist before you blame the score.
No one can promise an IP that every service rates as low risk, and Elusive doesn't. What you can do is look first and decide before you put an account on it.
Check in the first hour
A sticky proxy can be refunded only within its first hour, and only if a live test of it fails or its IP or location disagrees with the listing (checked with ip-api.com). So the order matters:
- Get the proxy and add it to a browser profile as SOCKS5 with the host, port, login and password.
- Open a checker in that profile and confirm the IP shown is the proxy's.
- Compare the type, ISP and location with the catalog listing.
- Run the score checks.
- Test the site you actually plan to use.
If the proxy doesn't work, refund it from its details in the dashboard within the hour. If its IP or location disagrees with the listing, contact support within that hour. If it works but the score is high, it is not refundable: a fraud score or another database's city is not a refund reason. In that case pick a different IP from the catalog for your next order.
Also run a DNS leak check on a new profile while you are at it.
Common mistakes
- Checking after logging in. Look before the first login, not after.
- Trusting one score. Compare two checkers when you can.
- Ignoring the type. A hosting IP will always look like a server. For account work, a mobile or residential proxy usually fits better.
- Checking the wrong IP. Test inside the profile that uses the proxy, not in your normal browser.
Limits
Scores change. A range can look different next week, and different checkers disagree. Sticky proxies keep their IP up to 24 hours, but residential and mobile ones run on real devices, so the IP may drop earlier.
A proxy doesn't make anything against a platform's terms OK. Follow each platform's rules. You can browse the live catalog from the pricing section and filter by country, ISP and proxy type.
FAQ
What is a good IP fraud score?
There is no universal good number, and every service scores differently. Lower is usually better, but what matters is whether the IP type and ISP fit and whether your target site works.
Is a medium risk score bad for a proxy?
Not necessarily. Medium scores are common. Check the IP type, the ISP and a live test on your real site before deciding.
How do I check if my proxy IP is blacklisted?
Paste the IP into a checker and look at its flags and reputation fields. Different services use different lists, so one flag on one site doesn't tell the whole story.
Can I get a refund if the fraud score is high?
No. A fraud score or another database's city is not a refund reason. A sticky proxy can be refunded only within the first hour, and only if a live test fails or its IP or location disagrees with the listing per ip-api.com.