1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a “deal” on social media only to get nothing in return, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults (32%) say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t a fringe problem—it’s something a large share of shoppers have dealt with firsthand.

This article covers what the data shows, why the problem is growing, and—most importantly—practical steps you can take to avoid becoming part of that one-third.

What Happened

Pew’s survey asked American adults whether they had personally ever been the victim of an online shopping scam. The results: 32% said yes. That’s up from similar surveys in prior years, though Pew notes that the 2025 number represents a broad measure that includes both minor losses and major frauds.

The report didn’t break down every scam type, but common patterns from other research and consumer complaints include:

• Fake or copycat websites that look like legitimate retailers but are designed to steal payment information.
• Social media ads offering steep discounts on popular items, often leading to a site that either never ships anything or sends a counterfeit.
• Non-delivery scams, where the seller collects payment and simply disappears.
• Payment app fraud, where scammers insist on using Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle—services that lack the fraud protections of credit cards.

Pew’s data aligns with Federal Trade Commission reports, which show that online shopping fraud has been among the top categories of consumer complaints in recent years.

Why It Matters

The scale of online shopping scams matters for a few reasons.

First, the prevalence is high enough that nearly everyone knows someone who has been burned. That suggests the problem isn’t limited to inexperienced users—scammers target all kinds of shoppers.

Second, the rise in social commerce (buying through Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Marketplace) has opened new channels for fraud. Pew’s own 2022 research found that influencers and social media have become a significant factor in how young adults shop. Scammers exploit the trust people place in familiar platforms.

Third, losses can be serious. While many scams involve small amounts—$50 to $100—others cost victims hundreds or thousands of dollars. And because many payments are made through apps or wire transfers, recovering the money is often difficult.

The holiday shopping season and constant online sales make this especially timely. High-pressure deals and limited-time offers create the perfect environment for scammers to operate.

What Readers Can Do

The good news is that most online shopping scams are avoidable. Scammers rely on speed, urgency, and emotional triggers. If you slow down and check a few things, you can often spot the warning signs.

Check the seller before you pay.
If you’re buying from a store you’ve never heard of, search for the business name plus “scam” or “review.” Look for independent reviews on sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau. Be wary of stores with no physical address or phone number.

Inspect the website URL.
Fake sites often use slight misspellings of well-known brands (e.g., “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for “https://” at the beginning of the URL—though note that a padlock icon by itself doesn’t guarantee the site is legitimate; it only means the connection is encrypted.

Watch for unrealistic prices and pressure.
If a new jacket is listed at 90% off and the ad says “only 3 left!” proceed with caution. Scammers create false urgency to prevent you from researching.

Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app.
Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). You can dispute a charge and usually get a refund while the bank investigates. Debit cards have weaker protections. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are designed for person-to-person transfers, not retail purchases—once you send money, it is very hard to get it back.

Avoid wire transfers and gift card payments.
Legitimate businesses rarely ask you to pay by wire transfer or buy gift cards and send the codes. Those are nearly always scams.

If something goes wrong, act quickly.
Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the transaction and ask for a chargeback. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you paid via a payment app, contact the app’s support team—though success is not guaranteed. Change any passwords you may have entered on a fake site and monitor your accounts for unusual activity.

Sources

The data in this article comes from the Pew Research Center survey “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” published November 2025. Additional context is drawn from previous Pew reports on payment apps and social commerce, as well as general consumer fraud patterns documented by the Federal Trade Commission.