1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online – How to Protect Yourself

If you shop online, the odds that you’ve run into a scam are higher than you might think. According to a July 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number climbs among younger adults—those aged 18 to 29 report even higher exposure, likely because they spend more time on social media platforms where fraudulent listings and fake storefronts are common.

Scams are not rare anomalies. They are a routine part of the digital shopping landscape. The good news is that most can be avoided with a few deliberate habits.

What happened: the data

Pew’s study, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” found that 33 percent of American adults have been the target or victim of at least one shopping scam. These scams take many forms: fake retailer websites that look legitimate, phishing emails that mimic major brands, fraudulent listings on social media marketplaces, and payment app fraud where a seller disappears after receiving money.

The survey also noted that experiences vary by age. Younger adults are more likely to encounter scams, partly because they are more active on social commerce channels. But no age group is immune. The overall prevalence suggests that relying on intuition alone is not enough.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams have been around for years, but several trends have made them more common and harder to spot. The growth of social media shopping, the use of payment apps like Venmo and Cash App for transactions, and the rise of fake “influencer” promotions all create opportunities for scammers. During peak shopping seasons—such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the winter holidays—fraud attempts spike as criminals capitalize on consumers’ urgency.

Beyond the immediate financial loss, falling for a scam can lead to identity theft, compromised credit card numbers, and a frustrating, time-consuming process to recover lost funds. For many people, the emotional toll is also significant: anger, embarrassment, and a lingering distrust of online stores.

What readers can do

You do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. Most scams share common warning signs, and a few straightforward practices can reduce your risk dramatically.

1. Verify the seller before you buy.
If you come across a deal on a social media ad or an unknown website, take a few minutes to research the seller. Look for contact information, a physical address, and reviews from sources you trust. Be skeptical if the only “reviews” are on the seller’s own site. A quick search for the store name plus “scam” can reveal warnings from other shoppers.

2. Check the URL carefully.
Fake retail sites often use addresses that are nearly identical to well-known brands, with slight misspellings or extra words. For example, “amazon-shop.net” is not Amazon. Always type the store’s URL directly into your browser rather than clicking a link from an email or ad.

3. Use a credit card for online purchases.
Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards or payment apps. Under U.S. law, your liability for unauthorized charges is limited, and many card issuers have zero-liability policies. Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle are designed for transfers between people you know, not for buying from strangers. If a seller insists on using one of those services, treat it as a red flag.

4. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).
Enable 2FA on your online shopping accounts, especially the major ones like Amazon, eBay, and any store that stores your payment details. This adds an extra step—usually a code sent to your phone—when logging in from a new device. It won’t prevent every scam, but it makes it much harder for criminals to take over your account.

5. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Scammers commonly lure people with prices that are far below market value—a new laptop for $200, a designer bag for $50. These offers are almost always fraudulent. Stick to reputable retailers or, if you are buying from a smaller seller, use a platform that offers buyer protection, such as PayPal Goods and Services.

6. Report scams when you see them.
If you encounter a suspicious listing, an email, or a website, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report to the platform where you saw the ad (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok). Your report helps warn others and may lead to the scam being taken down.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you realize you have paid for something that never arrived, or if you shared personal information with a fake site, act quickly.

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer. Explain the situation and ask about disputing the charge. Most card issuers have a window of 60 days or more to file a dispute.
  • Change your passwords. If you entered login credentials on a fake site, change the password for that account immediately. If you use the same password elsewhere, change those too.
  • Monitor your accounts. Keep an eye on bank and credit card statements for the next few weeks. Scammers sometimes sell your information to other fraudsters.
  • Report the scam. File a report with the FTC and, if you lost money, consider also reporting to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.

A realistic view

The fact that one in three Americans has experienced an online shopping scam does not mean you should stop shopping online. It means the risk is real and worth taking seriously. With a few habits—verifying sellers, using secure payment methods, and staying alert to common tactics—you can shop with much less worry. The extra minute it takes to double-check a URL or read a seller’s review could save you hours of frustration and a lot of money.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams.”
  • FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov.