1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online. Here’s How to Stay Safe.

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or landed on a website that looked legitimate but turned out to be fake, you’re not alone. A new study from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults—a number that has held steady over recent years and shows no signs of shrinking.

Online shopping scams aren’t rare anomalies. They are a routine risk, especially during peak sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season. But knowing what to look for and how to respond can make the difference between losing money and walking away safely.

What happened

Pew’s survey, conducted in October 2025, asked Americans about a range of online fraud experiences. The most common type of scam reported involved fake websites or phony ads on social media and search engines. Scammers create pages that closely mimic real retailers, often using stolen logos and slightly altered domain names (e.g., “amaz0n-discounts.com”). Victims place an order and either receive nothing, get a counterfeit item, or have their payment information stolen.

Other frequent scams include non-delivery of goods purchased through marketplace apps or social media posts, as well as phishing messages that impersonate shipping carriers or payment processors. The study also noted that younger adults and those who shop more frequently online reported higher rates of victimization, partly because they encounter more opportunities for fraud.

Why it matters

The scale of the problem is sobering. With one in three adults affected, online shopping scams are not a niche issue—they touch a large portion of the population. The financial impact varies, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that consumers lost over $8.8 billion to fraud in 2023, with online shopping scams among the top categories.

Beyond the direct money lost, there are secondary costs: time spent disputing charges, stress from stolen personal information, and the erosion of trust in legitimate online businesses. For people who rely on online shopping for convenience or necessity, particularly during busy shopping periods, knowing how to spot a scam is essential.

What readers can do

Before you click “buy”

  • Check the site carefully. Look at the URL for misspellings or extra words. Legitimate retailers use their real domain names. If a deal appears on social media, search for the retailer independently rather than clicking the ad.
  • Be skeptical of prices that seem too good. Scammers often lure shoppers with steep discounts on popular items like electronics, designer goods, or gift cards. If a $1,200 laptop is listed for $300, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  • Read reviews—but cautiously. Scammers sometimes post fake five-star reviews or hijack legitimate product listings. Cross-reference reviews on multiple trusted sites (like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau) and look for consistent complaints about non-delivery.
  • Use a credit card or a payment service like PayPal. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or direct bank transfers. PayPal’s Purchase Protection can also help recover funds if an item never arrives. Avoid paying by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.

When you’re checking out

  • Look for signs of security. A secure checkout page should start with “https://” and show a padlock icon. But note that scammers can also obtain SSL certificates, so this alone isn’t a guarantee.
  • Avoid giving more information than necessary. A legitimate seller needs your shipping address and payment details. They do not need your Social Security number, bank account login, or a photo of your ID.
  • Be wary of pressure tactics. Scammers often create false urgency—“Only 2 left at this price!” or “Sale ends in 10 minutes!”—to push you into acting without thinking. Take a moment to verify the site and the offer.

If you’ve been scammed

  • Contact your financial institution immediately. If you paid by credit card, report the fraud and request a chargeback. The sooner you act, the more likely you are to recover the money.
  • Report it to the FTC. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and file a complaint. This helps law enforcement track patterns and shut down scam operations.
  • Change your passwords. If you entered login credentials on a fake site, change those passwords immediately—especially if you reused them elsewhere. Consider using a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords.
  • Monitor your accounts. Keep an eye on bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions over the following weeks.

Online shopping doesn’t have to be risky. By staying alert, verifying sellers, and using secure payment methods, you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming part of the next statistic. The goal isn’t to scare you away from shopping online—it’s to help you do it smarter.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center. “About 1 in 3 Americans say they experienced an online shopping scam.” November 19, 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023.” February 2024.