1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s How to Stay Safe
New survey data from Pew Research Center shows that roughly a third of U.S. adults say they have been the victim of an online shopping scam. With the holiday buying season winding down and deals still lingering, it’s a good time to review how these scams work and what you can do to avoid them.
What happened
In November 2025, Pew Research Center released findings from a survey on online scams. The headline number: 33% of American adults said they had personally experienced an online shopping scam. That means an estimated 85 million people have encountered a fraudulent transaction, fake listing, or phishing attempt tied to an online purchase. The survey also found that younger adults (ages 18–29) were more likely to report being scammed than older age groups.
The most common scams included fake websites mimicking real stores, sellers on social media marketplaces who never ship the item, and phishing emails that look like order confirmations from companies like Amazon or Walmart. In some cases, scammers used stolen credit card details to make purchases, but the victim was the cardholder who never received the product.
Why it matters
Online shopping scams aren’t just a minor annoyance. They can lead to direct financial loss, identity theft, and compromised payment information. For a typical victim, the amount lost might be small — $50 to $100 — but when multiplied across millions of people, the total is enormous. And because many purchases are made with credit or debit cards, a single compromised account can cause weeks of headaches.
The timing matters, too. Even though the peak holiday season is past, post-holiday sales, clearance events, and “Boxing Week” promotions keep millions of people shopping online. Scammers know this and ramp up their efforts. The Pew data suggests that the problem is widespread enough that nearly every regular online shopper either knows someone who has been scammed or has experienced it themselves.
What readers can do
The good news is that most online shopping scams follow predictable patterns. By staying alert and following a few straightforward steps, you can significantly reduce your risk.
1. Check the website carefully before entering payment details.
Look for obvious signs: a misspelled domain name (like “Amaz0n” with a zero), missing contact information, no return policy, or a site that uses HTTP instead of HTTPS. If the URL lacks the padlock icon, do not enter credit card numbers.
2. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
A brand-new iPhone for $200 or a luxury handbag at 90% off is almost certainly a scam. Scammers prey on urgency and desire for a bargain. If the price is far below what you see elsewhere, pause and do more research.
3. Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app.
Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections under federal law. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge and typically get your money back. Debit cards may not have the same protections, and payment apps like Venmo or Cash App were never designed for buying from strangers — using them for purchases gives scammers direct access to your bank account.
4. Avoid making purchases on public Wi-Fi.
Coffee shop or airport Wi-Fi networks can be intercepted by attackers. If you must shop on a mobile device, use your cellular data or a VPN you trust.
5. Research the seller before you buy.
For unfamiliar online stores, search for reviews on sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau. For social media marketplace sellers, check their history, look for real customer feedback, and insist on using the platform’s built-in payment system rather than sending money directly.
6. Know what to do if you are scammed.
If you suspect you have been scammed, act quickly. Contact your credit card issuer or bank to dispute the charge and request a new card. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also report the scam to the website or platform where it occurred. In some cases, you may want to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 2025.
- Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 2025.
- Federal Trade Commission, “What to Do If You Were Scammed,” ftc.gov.