New Pew Data: One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online. Here’s What to Know.

The numbers are striking. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s about 32% of the population — a figure that should give any regular online shopper reason to pause.

As the holiday shopping season ramps up, understanding how these scams work and how to avoid them is more than a theoretical exercise. It’s a practical way to protect your money and your personal information.

What Happened

The Pew survey asked Americans whether they had ever been the victim of an online shopping scam — for example, paying for an item that never arrived, receiving something counterfeit or different from what was advertised, or having payment information stolen during a purchase. The result: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them.

The data also shows that younger adults (ages 18–29) are more likely to report being scammed than older age groups. That may reflect how often younger people shop through social media platforms where scam ads and fake storefronts are common.

Separate Pew research from 2022 and 2024 offers context: payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are widely used but come with security concerns — they often lack the buyer protections that credit cards offer. Meanwhile, a majority of TikTok users say they visit the platform for product reviews and recommendations, which creates openings for fraudulent influencers and fake deals.

Why It Matters

Scammers are getting better at mimicking legitimate online stores, payment portals, and customer service pages. A single mistake can mean losing not just the cost of a purchase, but also having credit card numbers, billing addresses, or even Social Security numbers stolen.

The financial impact varies widely — some lose small amounts, others hundreds of dollars. But the follow-on risks, like identity theft, can be larger and harder to undo. That’s especially concerning because many people do not realize they’ve been scammed until weeks later, when the item never arrives or they see unauthorized charges.

What You Can Do

No single step guarantees safety, but combining a few basic habits can drastically reduce your odds of being scammed.

1. Stick with known, verifiable sellers.
Before buying from an unfamiliar website, do a quick search for the company name plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” Check whether the site has a physical address and a working customer service phone number. If the only contact method is a web form, be cautious.

2. Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app.
Credit cards offer federal fraud protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act. If you never receive the item or your card number is stolen, you can dispute the charge. Debit cards and payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle rarely provide the same level of recourse — and once the money is sent, it’s often gone for good.

3. Look for the HTTPS symbol — but don’t stop there.
A padlock in the address bar means the connection is encrypted, which is good. But scammers can also get SSL certificates for fake sites. The real test is the overall URL. Look for typos like “amaz0n.com” or “walmart-offer.net.” If the domain name looks odd, leave.

4. Be skeptical of prices that are too good to be true.
A brand-new smartphone for $99 or a designer handbag for $20 is almost certainly a scam. Scammers rely on the fear of missing out. If the deal is only available for a few minutes, that’s a red flag, not a reason to rush.

5. Watch for pressure tactics.
Phrases like “only 2 left in stock” or “offer expires in 10 minutes” are common on scam sites. Legitimate retailers rarely use aggressive countdown timers to force a purchase.

6. Check social media ads carefully.
Many scams originate on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Verified accounts can still post fake ads, so don’t rely on verification badges alone. If the ad leads to a third-party site you don’t recognize, search for reviews before clicking “buy.”

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you realize you paid for something that never arrived or received a counterfeit:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately and request a chargeback or dispute.
  • Change your passwords if you created an account on the scam site.
  • Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • If you used a payment app, report the transaction to the app’s support team — though recovery is unlikely.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center. “About a Third of Americans Say They’ve Had an Online Shopping Scam Happen to Them.” November 19, 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “Payment Apps Like Venmo and Cash App Bring Convenience – and Security Concerns – to Some Users.” September 8, 2022.
  • Pew Research Center. “A Majority of U.S. TikTok Users Are There for Product Reviews and Recommendations.” November 21, 2024.