On the flip side, there are red flags. If a site doesn't ask for your age at all, that's a big one. It suggests they might not be following the law, which raises questions about their business practices. Another red flag is if they let you bypass age checks easily. Some sites have a simple 'I am 21+' checkbox that you can just click without any real verification. That's not really verification, and it's a sign they're not taking compliance seriously.

Watch out for sites that are vague about their policies. If you can't find any mention of age requirements, or if they're buried in the fine print, that's a red flag. Also, be wary of sellers who pressure you to skip verification. If a customer service rep tells you to 'just click yes' or to enter a fake birth date, walk away. That's a seller who doesn't care about the law or your safety.