1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Protect Yourself

New Pew Research Center data shows the problem is widespread. Knowing what to look for can save you money and frustration.

If you’ve ever bought something online only to receive nothing – or a knockoff that looks nothing like the picture – you are far from alone. According to a Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, about a third of American adults (34%) say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. The figure climbs even higher for younger adults: roughly half of those aged 18 to 29 report being scammed.

The same study found that a separate, broader survey earlier in 2025 showed that nearly half of U.S. adults have encountered some kind of online scam or fraud, with shopping scams being one of the most common. These numbers make clear that online shopping fraud is not a fringe problem – it’s a routine risk for anyone who buys goods over the internet.

What happened

The Pew data comes from two waves of research. The November 2025 report specifically asked about online shopping scams. It defined them as situations where a person bought something online that never arrived, was fake, or was significantly different from what was advertised. The 34% figure covers adults who have had this happen at least once.

Separately, a Pew report from July 2025 looked at online scams and attacks more broadly. It found that nearly half of Americans had experienced some form of online fraud in recent years, with shopping scams being a major category. The research also highlighted that scammers are increasingly active on social media platforms and through targeted ads – places where consumers may feel more casual about clicking a buy button.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams do more than waste money. They can also expose your payment information, home address, and other personal data. In the worst cases, a fake storefront may be designed primarily to harvest credit card numbers or login credentials for later use.

The problem is growing for a few reasons:

  • Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have become major shopping hubs. The Pew data from 2024 found that a majority of TikTok users rely on the app for product reviews and recommendations. That kind of trust can be exploited by scammers who post fake reviews or run ads for nonexistent products.
  • Payment apps such as Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle are often used for purchases between individuals. But a 2022 Pew study noted that many users have security concerns – and those concerns are justified. Payment app fraud is hard to reverse because these services were not designed for commercial transactions.
  • Fake websites and lookalike domain names are easy to create. A deal that seems too good – like a popular item listed at 70% off – is often the bait.

What readers can do

The good news is that most online shopping scams have clear warning signs. Here are practical steps to protect yourself.

Before you buy

  • Check the URL carefully. Scammers often register domain names that are one letter off from a legitimate retailer (for example, “amaz0n dot com” or “walmrat dot com”). Look for misspellings or unusual top-level domains like “.shop” or “.store” that are not typical for that brand.
  • Look for a secure connection and contact info. Legitimate websites use HTTPS (the padlock icon in your browser) and provide a physical address and phone number. If you see only a web form or a generic email address, be skeptical.
  • Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law. If you never receive the item, you can dispute the charge. Debit cards and payment apps do not always have the same protections.
  • Search for reviews from independent sources. Read about the seller on sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit. Be wary if all reviews are five stars or were posted within the same week.
  • Pay attention to unusual payment requests. If the seller insists on payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer, it is almost certainly a scam. Legitimate retailers do not ask for those methods.

If you think you’ve been scammed

Act quickly to limit damage:

  1. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Ask them to freeze the card and initiate a chargeback. Time matters – many banks have a 60‑day window.
  2. Change your passwords if you created an account on the fake site. Use a unique password for that account.
  3. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC shares data across agencies and can help identify patterns.
  4. Report the fake listing or ad to the platform where you saw it (Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc.). This helps prevent others from falling for the same scam.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 2025.
  • Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 2025.
  • Pew Research Center, “A majority of U.S. TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations,” November 2024.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams,” ftc.gov.
  • Better Business Bureau, “BBB Scam Tracker,” bbb.org.