1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online — Here’s How to Avoid It

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re far from alone. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That number is striking, and it suggests that nearly every regular online shopper either has been hit or knows someone who has. With holiday shopping and year-end sales approaching, it’s worth understanding what’s going on and how to protect yourself.

What happened

Pew’s survey, published in November 2025, asked U.S. adults about their experiences with various types of online fraud. The finding that roughly one in three Americans has encountered an online shopping scam puts this problem on the same level as other common digital threats like phishing emails or social media account takeovers. The study didn’t break down every scam type in detail, but other data from the Federal Trade Commission and consumer groups show that the most frequent schemes include:

  • Fake websites that mimic well-known retailers (often with slightly misspelled URLs or .shop domains).
  • Phishing messages posing as order confirmations or shipping updates, designed to steal login or payment details.
  • Marketplace fraud on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist, where sellers take payment and never deliver.
  • Social media ads for products that look legitimate but are either counterfeit or never shipped.

The Pew research also ties into earlier findings that payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are commonly misused in scams because they lack the buyer protections credit cards offer.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just a minor annoyance. They can drain bank accounts, expose personal information, and take weeks or months to resolve. The fact that one in three adults has been affected means the problem is widespread enough to affect trust in e‑commerce overall. For older adults, who may be less familiar with digital payment pitfalls, the risk is even higher.

The timing of the Pew study is important. As more people turn to social media and influencer recommendations for purchases, scammers are following the traffic. The same Pew data shows that a majority of TikTok users rely on the platform for product reviews, which creates fresh opportunities for fraudulent ads and fake storefronts. The convenience of buying through an app often bypasses the usual safeguards of a browser checkout.

What readers can do

You don’t need to stop shopping online, but a few simple habits can dramatically lower your chances of getting scammed.

Stick to known sellers and verified sites. If you’re considering a retailer you’ve never used, search for reviews from independent sources — not just the testimonials on the site itself. Look for a physical address and phone number. Check the URL carefully: scammers often register domains like “amazon-shop-deals.com” or “target-discounts.net.”

Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer chargeback rights if something goes wrong. Debit cards and payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle) usually do not. If a seller insists on payment only through a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, that’s a major red flag.

Enable purchase alerts and two‑factor authentication. Most banks and credit card issuers can send you a text or email for every transaction over a certain amount. Set that up. Turn on two‑factor authentication for your email and shopping accounts — it makes it much harder for scammers to hijack them after a data breach.

Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. A new iPhone for $150 or a designer handbag at 90 percent off is almost never real. Scammers rely on urgency: “Only 3 left!” or “Sale ends tonight!”. Slow down. Compare prices across multiple sites.

Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts. If you get a message that says “Your order has been delayed — click here to update payment,” don’t click. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s website and check your order status there. Genuine companies won’t ask for sensitive information via email.

If you are scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the fraud and dispute the charge. Then file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Change the password on the affected account and any other account that uses the same password. Monitor your statements for several months afterward.

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” (annual)
  • Pew Research Center, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns” (September 2022)

Sharing these tips with family and friends — especially those who are less experienced online — can help prevent the next one in three from becoming a statistic.