Nearly a Third of Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s What to Know

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, paid for a “deal” that turned out to be a fake listing, or handed over your card details to a site that looked legitimate but wasn’t, you aren’t alone. According to a November 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of American consumers.

The numbers are a reminder that scams aren’t rare anomalies. They are a routine hazard of modern e-commerce, and the risk doesn’t disappear just because you’re shopping on a familiar platform or using a trusted payment app. Understanding what these scams look like and how to recognize them before you hit “Pay Now” is the best defense.

What the Pew Research Shows

Pew’s study, published on November 19, 2025, asked Americans about various types of online fraud. The most common scenarios reported included:

  • Non-delivery scams – paying for an item that never ships.
  • Fraudulent listings – products that are misrepresented or counterfeit.
  • Phishing emails or texts – messages pretending to be from a retailer, asking for login or payment information.
  • Payment app fraud – scams involving services like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle, often where the scammer persuades the buyer to send money outside the platform’s protection system.

The survey is part of a broader Pew research program on digital threats, and it aligns with earlier findings on payment app security concerns. Notably, younger adults and those who shop frequently on social media or via influencers are more likely to encounter scams, though the risk is widespread.

Why This Matters for Everyday Shoppers

The prevalence of online shopping scams isn’t just a statistic. It means that if you shop online, the odds are good that you or someone close to you has been targeted. The consequences go beyond lost money. Victims often face time-consuming disputes with banks, compromised personal information that can lead to identity theft, and a general erosion of trust in online marketplaces.

During holiday shopping periods, the pressure to find good deals and the sheer volume of transactions make people more vulnerable. Scammers adjust their tactics to look like seasonal promotions, urgent limited-time offers, or shipping notifications.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

You don’t need to stop shopping online, but you do need to build a few habits that reduce your risk. Here are practical steps:

1. Recognize common red flags

  • Prices that are unrealistically low (a new phone for 80 percent off, for example).
  • No physical address or customer service phone number on the seller’s website.
  • Requests to pay via wire transfer, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps with no buyer protection.
  • Urgent language like “only 2 left” or “offer expires in 10 minutes.”
  • Typos, strange URL variations, or a lack of secure connection (look for “https” and a padlock icon).

2. Use secure payment methods
Credit cards generally offer the strongest fraud protection. Debit cards and payment apps like Venmo or Cash App, when used for goods and services, may have limited recourse if something goes wrong. If you must use a payment app, select the “goods and services” option rather than “friends and family” – the former includes some protection.

3. Verify the seller before you buy
On platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Amazon, check the seller’s history and ratings. On social media, be extra cautious with ads from accounts you don’t follow. Search for reviews of the seller or the product separately. If a store is new and has no online footprint, treat it as suspicious.

4. Enable purchase alerts
Set up notifications with your bank or credit card for any charge over a certain amount. That way, if a fraudulent transaction goes through, you’ll know immediately.

5. Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi
Public networks are easy to intercept. If you need to make a purchase while out, use your phone’s cellular data or a VPN you trust.

If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

Act quickly. The steps below will give you the best chance of recovering your money and limiting damage:

  • Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraudulent and ask to freeze the card if needed.
  • Change passwords for the payment accounts and email you used.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It helps authorities track scams.
  • If you used a payment app, report the transaction through the app’s help center. Note that peer-to-peer apps are not required to reverse unauthorized payments in the same way credit cards are.

A Quick Checklist for Safe Online Shopping

  • Is the price realistic?
  • Does the seller have a verifiable address and contact info?
  • Is my payment method one with fraud protection?
  • Am I using a secure internet connection?
  • Have I turned on purchase alerts?
  • Did I double-check the URL before entering payment details?

The Pew findings confirm that online shopping scams are a widespread problem, but most are avoidable with a little caution. The goal isn’t to make you paranoid – it’s to make you prepared.

Sources:
Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” Nov. 19, 2025.
Pew Research Center, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users,” Sept. 8, 2022.
Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov.