BBB or Better Business Bureau provides some reviews on websites. This has been helpful to me in making my transactions online. I would first search for a review of the webiste here.
This site discusse issues about phishing attacks. They have latest updates about it. Try to visit their site. You might also find it helpful.
So are you saying that the BBB is not a reliable site and not a good source of information regarding the validity of any company that is in the market? May it be online or not.
The BBB could be a great help for starting up companies that would want to venture out and make partnerships with other stable companies; but I also think that you shouldn't just get your resources in just one site. Try to find information about a certain business in other sites as well.