1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Dodge the Next One

If you’ve ever clicked “buy” on a deal that seemed too good to be true only to receive nothing—or a fake product—you’re far from alone. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s about 33% of the adult population. And as holiday shopping ramps up, the numbers are worth paying attention to.

What Happened

Pew’s report, published in November 2025, is based on a nationally representative survey conducted earlier this year. It asked Americans whether they had ever been the victim of an online shopping scam—defined broadly as situations where they paid for an item online but never received it, received a counterfeit or significantly different product, or were tricked into visiting a fake website that stole their payment information.

The results show that these scams are not rare or isolated. More than 75 million U.S. adults have dealt with one. The survey also highlighted which groups are most affected: younger adults (ages 18 to 29) reported the highest rates, likely because they shop online more frequently and are more active on social media platforms where scam ads and fake storefronts thrive.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just annoying—they can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per victim. Scammers are getting better at mimicking legitimate stores, using professional-looking websites, fake customer reviews, and even social media ads that appear to come from known brands. The most common tactics include:

  • Fake websites that copy the look of a real retailer, often with slight misspellings in the URL.
  • Non-delivery scams where you pay but the item never ships.
  • Counterfeit goods that are poor quality imitations of brand-name products.
  • Phishing messages that look like order confirmations or shipping updates but are designed to steal login or payment data.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that in 2024, consumers lost over $1.2 billion to online shopping scams alone. And many victims never get their money back, especially if they used payment methods that lack fraud protection.

What Readers Can Do

The good news is that you don’t have to give up the convenience of online shopping. A few straightforward habits can dramatically reduce your risk.

Verify the seller and the site. Before entering payment details, check the website’s URL for oddities (like “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for contact information and a physical address. Search for the store name plus “scam” or “complaint” to see if others have reported problems. For unfamiliar sellers, stick to well-known marketplaces that offer buyer protection.

Pay with a credit card. Credit cards generally have stronger fraud protection than debit cards, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Cash App. Avoid paying via gift card or cryptocurrency—scammers often demand these because they are nearly untraceable.

Be wary of deals that are too good. If a new gaming console or designer handbag is priced at 80% off, ask yourself why. Scammers often lure people with unbelievably low prices. Compare the price with other retailers. If it’s the only place offering that discount, walk away.

Watch for phishing links. Scam ads on social media or in search results can look identical to the real thing. Instead of clicking a link in an email or social post, go directly to the retailer’s website by typing the address into your browser. Check your account order history before responding to any “we need to confirm your payment” messages.

Use alerts and two-factor authentication. Enable purchase notifications from your bank or credit card issuer so you’ll know immediately if an unauthorized charge appears. Use two-factor authentication on your payment accounts to add an extra lock.

If you get scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also report it to the platform where you saw the ad or listing—whether that’s Facebook, Instagram, eBay, or another marketplace. You may not recover the money, but reporting helps track patterns and may shut down the scammer.

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.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book,” 2024.

Online shopping doesn’t have to be risky. By staying aware of common scams and using basic safeguards, you can keep your purchases—and your money—safe.