1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online: What You Can Do

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be a counterfeit, you are far from alone. According to a new study from the Pew Research Center published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure cuts across age groups, though younger adults and people who use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App report even higher rates of victimization.

The research underscores a reality that many consumers already sense: online shopping scams are not rare events. They have become a routine hazard of buying anything through a screen.

What the Pew Study Found

Pew’s survey, fielded in October 2025, asked U.S. adults whether they had personally experienced an online shopping scam. Thirty-four percent said yes. The researchers defined a scam broadly—anything from a fake website that took money without delivering goods, to a phishing message pretending to be a retailer, to a social media ad that led to a fraudulent store.

The study also found that certain behaviors correlate with higher risk. People who frequently use peer-to-peer payment services—especially those who use them for shopping—were more likely to report having been scammed. So were adults under 50. The report didn’t claim causation, but the pattern is worth noting: the convenience of payment apps can come with weaker consumer protections than credit cards.

Why This Matters

Online shopping scams are easy to set up and hard to shut down. A scammer can spin up a convincing-looking website in a few hours using a template, buy fake reviews, and run targeted ads on social media. By the time victims realize they’ve been cheated, the site is often gone and the payment has already been moved.

The financial impact varies. Some people lose a few dollars on a cheap item that never ships. Others lose hundreds or thousands, especially if they enter bank account or credit card details into a phishing page. In the worst cases, scammers capture enough personal information to commit identity theft.

On top of the direct financial loss, there is the erosion of trust. When one in three shoppers has been burned, it makes everyone more cautious—and sometimes that caution causes people to miss legitimate deals or hesitate to try new small businesses.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

You don’t need to be a security expert to shop safely. A few habits can dramatically reduce your risk.

Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards or payment apps. If a transaction is fraudulent, you can dispute it with the card issuer and usually get your money back while they investigate. Debit cards pull money directly from your bank account, and recovering those funds can take longer—and may not be guaranteed.

Enable purchase alerts. Most banks and credit card companies let you set up text or email notifications for any transaction over a certain amount. This way you’ll know immediately if a charge you didn’t authorize appears.

Research the seller before you buy. If you’re on a site you haven’t used before, search for its name plus words like “scam” or “review.” Look for independent reviews on sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau. Be skeptical of a store that has only glowing five-star reviews posted within a short period—those are often fake.

Check the URL carefully. Scammers register domains that are easy to mistake for the real thing, like “amaz0n-deals.com” or “bestbuy-discounts.net.” Look for the correct domain name and make sure the site uses HTTPS (the padlock icon in the address bar). HTTPS alone doesn’t guarantee legitimacy, but its absence is a red flag.

Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts. Phishing messages often mimic order confirmations or shipping notifications. If you get a message about a package you didn’t order, don’t click anything. Go directly to the retailer’s website or tracking page.

Consider using a third-party payment service. Services like PayPal or Apple Pay add an extra layer between your financial details and the seller. Many of them also offer buyer protection programs for eligible purchases.

Be extra careful with deals that seem too good. That 80% off a popular electronic device is almost certainly a scam. Scammers rely on urgency and low prices to override your skepticism. If a deal feels unreal, it probably is.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you realize you’ve paid for something that never arrived—or that a seller has disappeared—act quickly.

Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraudulent and ask about reversing it. The sooner you act, the better your chances.
Change any passwords you may have entered on a scam site. If you reused that password elsewhere, change those accounts too.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC shares data with law enforcement and can help track patterns.
If you shared sensitive information like your Social Security number, consider freezing your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). This prevents scammers from opening accounts in your name.
Keep records: screenshots, emails, receipts, and any communication with the seller. These can be useful for both your bank and investigators.

The Bottom Line

Online shopping scams are not going away, but you can lower your odds of becoming a victim with a few straightforward precautions. The Pew data shows that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them—which means roughly two-thirds have not. With a little vigilance, you can stay in that safer majority.

Sources

Pew Research Center. (2025, November 19). About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. https://www.pewresearch.org/… (full URL in RSS feed)
Pew Research Center. (2022, September 8). Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.