1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s What the Data Says

If you’ve bought something online and never received it, or paid with a payment app only to find you can’t get your money back, you aren’t alone. According to a Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, about a third of U.S. adults report that they have experienced an online shopping scam.

That number is significant—and it suggests that for many people, the question isn’t if they’ll encounter a scam, but when.

What the Data Shows

The Pew study found that roughly one in three Americans say they’ve been the victim of an online shopping scam. These scams take several common forms:

  • Fake websites that look like legitimate retailers but disappear after taking payment.
  • Social media promotions featuring heavily discounted products that never arrive.
  • Payment app fraud, where buyers send money via Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle and lose any ability to dispute the charge.

Younger adults and people who shop frequently via their phones or social media are more likely to report being scammed. That aligns with other Pew data: a 2024 survey found that a majority of TikTok users use the platform for product reviews and recommendations, which scammers exploit by creating fake seller accounts.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams are not just a nuisance—they can result in real financial loss. And because many people use payment methods that offer little or no buyer protection, recovering that money is often impossible.

The problem is growing for several reasons. More Americans do their shopping on mobile devices, where it’s easier to miss warning signs like an unusual URL. Scammers also take advantage of the trust people place in social media influencers and sponsored posts. A 2025 Pew report on online scams and attacks noted that this kind of fraudulent activity has become more sophisticated, with scammers using fake reviews, stolen photos, and even temporary websites that look professional.

The stakes are especially high during holiday shopping seasons, when people are in a hurry and more likely to click before verifying.

How to Protect Yourself

You can reduce your risk without giving up online shopping entirely. Here are steps that work:

  • Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge with the card issuer.
  • Stick to well-known retailers or verified sellers. If you’re buying from a site you’ve never heard of, do a quick search for reviews and complaints. Look for red flags like extremely low prices, poor grammar, or no contact information.
  • Be wary of deals that seem too good. Scammers rely on urgency and discounts to override skepticism. A brand-new game console for half price is almost always a scam.
  • Don’t pay with direct transfers or payment apps for goods from strangers. Apps like Zelle and Cash App were designed for friends and family, not for transactions with unknown sellers. Once the money is sent, it is very hard to get it back.
  • Check the URL and look for HTTPS. Scammers often use domain names that are slight misspellings of real stores. A secure connection (https) doesn’t guarantee a site is legitimate, but its absence is a warning sign.
  • Enable purchase alerts on your bank or credit card. This way you’ll be notified right away if an unfamiliar charge appears.

If you do get scammed, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact your bank. Even if you can’t recover the money, reporting helps track patterns and warn others.

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.
  • Pew Research Center. “A majority of U.S. TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations.” November 2024.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “How to avoid an online shopping scam.” ftc.gov.