1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Stay Safe
About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them, according to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center. That finding is a reminder that fraudulent sellers, fake websites, and phishing attempts are not rare—they’re part of doing business online for millions of people. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, knowing how to spot and avoid these scams has become a basic skill.
What’s happening
Pew’s survey asked about a broad range of “online shopping scams,” including cases where someone bought something that never arrived, received a counterfeit or damaged item, or was tricked into entering payment details on a fake site. The one-in-three figure covers people who said such a scam had happened to them personally. The data aligns with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports: the agency logged more than 1 million identity theft complaints in 2024, a significant portion tied to online transactions.
Scammers have become more sophisticated. Instead of obvious spoofed emails, they now use lookalike domains that differ from the real store by a single letter, place ads on social media that mimic well-known brands, and send payment links through apps like Venmo or Cash App. The most common fraud types remain non-delivery (you pay and get nothing), fake product (counterfeit or defective goods), and payment fraud where the seller uses your card information for unauthorized purchases.
Why it matters
For many people, online shopping is not a luxury but a necessity, especially for those who live in areas with limited retail options or rely on delivery for household goods. A single scam can mean losing several hundred dollars, and the emotional toll—anger, embarrassment, and frustration—is often overlooked. For less tech-savvy shoppers, the warning signs may not be obvious. Scammers target older adults, new immigrants, and anyone less familiar with e-commerce norms. The cost goes beyond individual losses: widespread fraud erodes trust in legitimate online businesses and makes people wary of using services that could otherwise save them time and money.
What you can do to protect yourself
Check the seller and the site. Before you buy from a new online store, search for its name plus “scam” or “review.” Look for third-party reviews not hosted on the store itself—those can be faked. Confirm the URL is correct; watch for misspellings or extra characters (for example, “amaz0n” instead of “amazon”). A padlock icon in the address bar is not a guarantee of safety, but its absence is a red flag.
Use payment methods with buyer protection. Credit cards generally offer the strongest recourse if a purchase goes wrong. Some payment apps, like PayPal’s Goods and Services option, provide dispute resolution. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency when dealing with unknown sellers; those methods are almost impossible to reverse.
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. Unrealistic discounts—80 % off a popular electronic device or a luxury handbag for a fraction of retail—are classic bait. Urgent language like “only 3 left at this price” or “sale ends in 15 minutes” is designed to bypass your caution. Slow down and verify the offer through an independent source.
Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. Even if a scammer obtains your password, a second layer of verification (like a code sent to your phone) can block unauthorized access. This is especially important for your email account, which is often the key to resetting other passwords.
If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly
Call your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the unauthorized transaction and ask them to reverse it if possible. Change the passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised, and enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. If the scam happened on a platform like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace, notify them through their support channels. Documentation—screenshots, emails, payment receipts—will help your case.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 2025.
- Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.