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

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or handed over payment to a site that turned out to be fake, you are far from alone. A new survey from Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about a third of U.S. adults – roughly 33% – say they have fallen victim to an online shopping scam. That number is large enough to make anyone pause before clicking “buy.”

Scammers have become more sophisticated in recent years, but many of their tricks follow recognizable patterns. Understanding how these scams work and taking a few simple steps before each purchase can significantly reduce your risk.

What happened

Pew’s survey asked Americans whether they had ever been the target of an online shopping scam, and the results are striking. The researchers did not specify a timeframe, so the figure covers a lifetime of online shopping. But the finding aligns with other data: online fraud complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission have been climbing, and payment scams involving apps like Venmo and Cash App are also common sources of loss.

The scams people encounter range from fake store websites that look legitimate but never ship goods, to phishing emails pretending to be order confirmations, to ads on social media for deals that sound too good to be true. Payment apps add another layer of risk: because transactions through services like Venmo or Zelle are often instantaneous and hard to reverse, scammers push buyers to use them instead of credit cards.

Why it matters

For consumers, online shopping scams do more than drain a bank account. They can lead to stolen credit card numbers, identity theft, and a lingering distrust of e‑commerce. The convenience of buying from a phone or laptop comes with a responsibility to check who you are dealing with. And because scams evolve quickly – for example, fake websites now use HTTPS padlocks and realistic logos – relying on surface-level signs of safety is no longer enough.

Older adults, who may be less familiar with the latest scam tactics, are frequent targets. But Pew’s data shows that no age group is immune. Young adults, who do a lot of shopping via social media and TikTok recommendations, also face high exposure.

What readers can do

You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. A few practical habits can catch most scams before they cause harm.

Before you buy:

Search for the store’s name plus words like “scam” or “review.” Real customer complaints are often easy to find.
Check the website’s domain – scam sites often use misspelled names or unusual endings like .shop or .top.
Look for a physical address and phone number. If they only have a contact form, consider that a warning sign.
Pay with a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer chargeback rights if the item never arrives or is misrepresented.

Red flags to watch for:

Prices that are 50–80% below competitors, especially on popular electronics or luxury goods.
Urgency tactics like “only 2 left” or “sale ends in 10 minutes” – scammers use these to rush your decision.
Requests for payment via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate businesses rarely insist on these methods.

If you think you’ve been scammed:

Contact your bank or card issuer immediately and ask them to freeze the transaction.
Change passwords on any accounts you used at the scam site.
Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Even if you can’t get your money back, your report helps authorities identify patterns and shut down fraudulent operations.

Long-term habits:

Use a virtual credit card number (offered by many banks) for online purchases. These one‑time numbers limit the damage if a site is compromised.
Enable two‑factor authentication on your email and financial accounts.
Monitor your statements monthly and set up transaction alerts for any charge over a small amount.

Sources

Pew Research Center. “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them.” Published November 2025.

Federal Trade Commission. Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, 2024.

Pew Research Center. “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.” September 2022.