1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself
If you shop online, you are not alone in worrying about fraud. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about one-third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That is roughly 33 percent of the adult population—a figure that gives any regular online shopper reason to pause.
The survey is part of a broader Pew study on online scams and attacks in America. It captures a moment when e-commerce has become routine, but so have the efforts of scammers trying to exploit it. While the precise numbers may shift with each new survey, the trend is clear: online shopping scams are common enough that most of us either know someone affected or have nearly fallen for one ourselves.
What the Pew Data Shows
According to the Pew Research Center’s report, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The survey asked respondents whether they had ever been the target of a scam related to buying or selling goods online. The findings do not distinguish between minor losses and major ones, but the prevalence itself is notable. For context, that rate is higher than the share of Americans who report experiencing other common online threats such as phishing emails targeting their financial accounts or social media account takeovers.
The most frequent scenarios, according to Pew and other consumer protection sources, include:
- Fake online stores that take payment but never deliver goods.
- Phishing emails or texts that look like order confirmations or shipping updates but are designed to steal credit card details.
- Social media advertisements that lead to fraudulent sites mimicking legitimate retailers.
- “Too good to be true” deals on popular items, especially electronics, designer clothing, and gift cards.
Pew’s data also suggest that younger adults and those who shop frequently on mobile devices may be at higher risk, partly because they encounter more ads and less secure payment methods.
Why It Matters
Beyond the immediate financial loss, online shopping scams erode trust in digital commerce. Victims may lose not just money but also personal information—email addresses, physical addresses, and even login credentials—that can be reused in other scams. Recovery is often difficult; banks and credit card companies may reverse charges, but that process can take weeks. For purchases made via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Cash App, getting money back is much harder.
The sheer scale of the problem also points to a deeper issue: many consumers still do not know how to spot a fake website or a fraudulent ad. Scammers invest in making their pages look professional, with realistic logos, fake customer reviews, and even “secure” padlock icons that are meaningless if the site itself is a replica.
What You Can Do
Prevention is your best defense. Here are actionable steps based on recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission and cybersecurity experts.
1. Verify the website before entering payment details.
Look closely at the URL. Scammers often use addresses that differ from the real site by one or two letters (e.g., “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Check for contact information, return policies, and physical addresses. If a site has no phone number or only a free email address, be cautious.
2. Pay with a credit card, not a debit card or cash transfer.
Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under U.S. law. You can dispute charges with the card issuer. Debit cards have less protection, and money sent via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency is nearly impossible to recover.
3. Be skeptical of unsolicited ads and emails.
If you receive a link in an email or social media message for a deal that seems unusually low, do not click it. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s official website. Scammers often impersonate major brands like Walmart, Target, or Nike during holiday seasons.
4. Read reviews—but critically.
Fake reviews are common. Look for patterns: overly positive language posted on the same day, or reviews that only mention the shipping speed and not the product quality. Use tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta to analyze review credibility, but keep in mind that these tools are not perfect.
5. Use a virtual credit card or payment service with buyer protection.
Some banks offer one-time-use virtual card numbers. Services like PayPal (when using the “Goods and Services” option) also offer dispute resolution. Avoid sending money to strangers via payment apps marked as “friends and family.”
6. If you are scammed, act quickly.
Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to stop the payment. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the loss is significant. Changing passwords and monitoring your credit report are wise follow-ups.
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. “How to Avoid a Scam.” ftc.gov/scams.
The Pew data offers a reminder that online shopping scams are not rare. By staying alert and using the tips above, you can reduce your chances of becoming part of that one-in-three statistic.