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

If you’ve ever paid for something online that never arrived, or clicked a link in an email that led to a fake storefront, you’re not alone. According to a Pew Research Center survey from November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s a large enough number that it’s worth stepping back and looking at what’s actually going on, and what you can do about it.

The risk tends to increase during peak shopping seasons, when both legitimate retailers and fraudsters ramp up their activity. The good news is that most scams follow recognizable patterns, and a little caution goes a long way.

What Happened

Pew’s survey asked Americans about their direct experience with online shopping scams, which they defined broadly to include things like paying for goods that never arrived, buying from a fake website, or being tricked by a phishing email that claimed to be from a retailer. About a third of respondents said they’d experienced at least one such incident. Younger adults and frequent online shoppers were more likely to report being scammed—likely because they spend more time and money online, giving scammers more opportunities.

The most common types of online shopping fraud include:

Non-delivery scams: You pay for an item and it never shows up. The seller may disappear or make excuses.
Fake websites: Scammers set up a site that looks like a real store or a well-known brand, often with deals that seem too good to be true.
Phishing emails: Messages that appear to come from a retailer, payment service, or shipping company, asking you to click a link and log in or update payment details.
Social media marketplace fraud: Items listed on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram that either don’t exist or are misrepresented.

Why It Matters

Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most Americans, but the convenience comes with real risks. Unlike buying from a physical store, you can’t see the product before you pay, and it can be difficult to get your money back once it’s gone. The problem is widespread enough that it’s not a matter of “if” you’ll encounter a scam attempt, but “when.”

The stakes go beyond losing a few dollars on a purchase. Scammers often collect personal information—your address, credit card number, even your Social Security number—which can lead to identity theft. And because many people use the same passwords across multiple sites, a successful phishing attack can give criminals access to your email, bank accounts, and more.

What Readers Can Do

None of this means you should stop shopping online. It does mean you should build a few habits that make it much harder for scammers to succeed.

How to spot a scam before you buy

Check the website address carefully. Scammers often use domain names that look like the real thing but with a small misspelling (e.g., “amaz0n.com” or “bestbuy-offers.net”). Legitimate sites use HTTPS (the padlock icon), but that alone isn’t a guarantee—scammers can get SSL certificates too.
Look for obvious red flags: terrible grammar, all-caps urgency, or prices that are drastically lower than anywhere else. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Search for reviews or complaints about the seller before buying. A quick Google search with the store name plus “scam” or “review” can reveal a lot.
Be skeptical of pressure tactics like “only 2 items left” countdown timers on unfamiliar sites. Scammers use those to make you act without thinking.

Safe shopping habits

Use a credit card for online purchases when possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards, and you can dispute charges. Avoid using debit cards or wire transfers for purchases from unknown sellers.
Enable two-factor authentication on your payment accounts and email. That way, even if a scammer gets your password, they can’t log in without the second code.
Avoid making purchases on public Wi-Fi. If you’re shopping on your phone at a coffee shop, use your mobile data or a VPN. Public networks can be intercepted by attackers.
Don’t click links in unsolicited emails or text messages. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s website by typing the URL yourself. Phishing emails can look very convincing, even mimicking real order confirmations.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you realize you’ve paid for something that didn’t arrive, or you gave your information to a fake site, act quickly:

Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. They can stop payment or reverse the charge, and issue a new card if needed.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps authorities track patterns and shut down scammers.
Change your passwords for any accounts you may have used on the fraudulent site, and enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unusual charges over the next few weeks.

Staying Informed

Online shopping scams aren’t going away, but the more you know about how they work, the less likely you are to fall for one. The Pew Research Center’s data is a reminder that this is a common problem—one that affects people across all demographics. Share what you learn with family and friends, especially those who may be less experienced online. A little caution can save a lot of trouble.

Sources: Pew Research Center, November 2025 survey on online shopping scams; Federal Trade Commission guidance on fraud reporting.