1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for an item through a payment app only to realize the seller was fake, you’re far from alone. New data from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, shows that about a third of American adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a stark reminder that scam attempts are now a routine part of buying things on the internet.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, knowing what to look for – and how to limit the damage if something goes wrong – matters more than ever.

What happened

Pew surveyed U.S. adults and found that roughly one in three reported being the victim of an online shopping scam. The study did not define a specific dollar threshold or require that money was actually lost; it simply asked whether the respondent had experienced such a scam. The finding fits a broader pattern: Pew has also documented that a majority of TikTok users rely on the platform for product reviews and recommendations, a channel where scams can spread quickly. And earlier research from 2022 highlighted that payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience but also raise security concerns – a combination that scammers exploit.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams are not rare events. They touch a large enough share of the population that most people now know someone who has been burned. The scams range from fake websites that look like real retailers to social media ads that advertise unbeatable deals on popular items, and from phishing emails claiming a package needs a “redelivery fee” to sellers on peer-to-peer marketplaces who vanish after receiving payment through a peer-to-peer app.

The timing of the Pew data is useful because it arrives just as millions of Americans are hunting for holiday discounts. Scammers know that people are in a rush, more willing to click unfamiliar links, and more likely to overlook a warning sign when a deal seems too good.

What readers can do

The practical steps to reduce your risk are not new, but they are worth repeating, especially given the scale of the problem.

Use a credit card when possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps. If a seller asks you to pay via Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle for a transaction with a stranger, treat that as a red flag. Those apps are designed for payments between people you trust, not for buying goods from unknown sellers.

Verify the seller before you buy. On marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace, check the seller’s history, read recent reviews, and look for patterns of complaints. On a website you’ve never visited before, search for the store name plus “scam” or “review.” Look for a physical address and a phone number. If the site uses a domain name that is a slight misspelling of a well-known brand, be suspicious.

Watch for unrealistic discounts and urgent language. A common tactic is to offer a limited-time “80% off” deal on something that normally sells for hundreds of dollars. If the price is far below what you would expect, it is almost certainly a fake. Similarly, emails or texts that claim you need to “pay a small fee to release a package” or “verify your account immediately” are almost always scams.

Do not use public Wi-Fi for purchases. Public networks in coffee shops, airports, or hotels are not secure. If you need to buy something while out, use your phone’s cellular data or a trusted VPN.

Enable two-factor authentication on your payment accounts and email. This makes it harder for a scammer to access your accounts even if they get your password.

If you are scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge. Change the passwords on any accounts that may be compromised. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not recover your money, but it helps track patterns. Also consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file if you disclosed sensitive information like your Social Security number.

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. “A majority of U.S. TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations.” November 21, 2024.
  • Pew Research Center. “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.” September 8, 2022.