1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself

According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 34 percent of U.S. adults who have lost money or personal information through a fraudulent transaction online. If you shop on the internet — and most of us do — the odds are good that you’ve come close to a scam, even if you didn’t fall for it.

The numbers are a reminder that online shopping scams aren’t just a problem for the gullible or the inexperienced. They affect all kinds of buyers, across age groups and income levels. And the methods scammers use keep evolving. Below, I’ll walk through what’s happening, why it matters, and, most importantly, what you can do to avoid becoming part of that one-in-three statistic.

What happened

The Pew survey, published in November 2025, asked about several types of online fraud. The results showed that online shopping scams — defined as situations where someone bought or tried to buy something online but never received the item, or received something different or counterfeit — were among the most common. Other scams tracked included phishing messages, fake charity requests, and romance scams, but shopping fraud topped the list.

The study also found that younger adults reported higher rates of being scammed. That might seem surprising, but it likely reflects that younger people shop online more frequently and are more willing to use newer payment methods like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. Those payment apps offer convenience but come with fewer consumer protections than credit cards or even debit cards.

Why it matters

When you buy something online, you’re not just risking the price of the item. You may also give away your address, phone number, email, or payment card details. That information can be sold or used for identity theft. Even if the scam only costs you $20, the cleanup — cancelling cards, monitoring accounts, dealing with stress — can take hours.

And these scams aren’t always easy to spot. Scammers set up professional-looking websites, create fake reviews, and even run social media ads that look legitimate. They exploit urgency (“Only 3 left!”) and trust signals like logos from the Better Business Bureau or McAfee. By the time you realize you’ve been tricked, the money is gone and the site has disappeared.

The risk is especially high during big shopping seasons — Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holiday sales — when people are looking for deals and more willing to click unfamiliar links. But everyday shopping on marketplaces or through social media ads carries the same dangers.

What readers can do

You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. A few habits go a long way.

Check the seller and the site before you buy. If you’re on a website you’ve never heard of, look for a physical address and a phone number. Search the company name plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” Read reviews — but be skeptical of five-star reviews that sound identical or overly positive. Use tools like Google’s Transparency Report to check if a site is known for phishing.

Look for red flags in the web address. Scammers often use domains that look like the real thing but have a slight misspelling (e.g., “amaz0n.com” or “bestseller-deals.net”). Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts. Type the store’s URL directly into your browser.

Pay with a credit card when possible. Under U.S. law, credit card purchases over $50 are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. You can dispute a charge if you don’t receive the item or if it’s counterfeit. Debit cards and payment app transfers (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle) do not offer the same protection. If the seller says they only accept payment through an app, that’s a serious warning sign.

Use a separate email or a privacy service. For shopping on unfamiliar sites, consider using a burner email address or a service like Apple’s Hide My Email. That way, if the site is a scam, your primary inbox won’t get flooded with spam or phishing attempts.

Enable alerts on your accounts. Set up transaction alerts for your credit card and bank accounts. Most banks let you receive a text or email for any charge over a certain amount. That way, if a scammer uses your card, you’ll know quickly.

If you get scammed, act fast. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute the charge. Freeze your card if needed. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Even if the amount is small, reporting helps track patterns. You can also report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the loss is significant.

One important point: don’t beat yourself up if it happens. Scammers are skilled at deception, and the research shows it happens to a lot of people. The key is to respond quickly and learn from the experience.

Protecting yourself doesn’t have to be complicated

The takeaway from the Pew data is clear: online shopping scams are common and they’re not going away. But with a few precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk. Stick with reputable sellers, use payment methods that offer protection, and stay wary of deals that seem too good to be true. A little skepticism can save you time, money, and frustration.

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, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 31, 2025.
  • Business Journal Daily, “About a Third of Americans Report Online Shopping Scams,” December 4, 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”