1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Protect Yourself

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Protect Yourself

If you shop online—and most of us do—the odds that you’ve been targeted by a scam are higher than you might think. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center report, about a third of Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s not just a few people falling for obvious traps. It suggests that deceptive sellers, fake websites, and phishing schemes are now a routine part of the e-commerce landscape.

What Happened

Pew’s survey, part of a broader look at online scams and attacks in the United States, found that roughly 33 percent of adults have encountered a scam while shopping online. The number holds across age groups, though younger adults report slightly higher rates. The research did not break down every type of scam, but common patterns include fake storefronts that take payment and never ship goods, phishing emails that mimic legitimate retailers, and social media ads that lead to counterfeit merchandise or outright theft.

The data was released in late 2025, but similar trends have been documented in earlier years. The Federal Trade Commission also reports rising losses to online shopping fraud, with consumers losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams are not just a minor annoyance. They can drain bank accounts, steal credit card numbers, and expose personal data that leads to identity theft. The timing of this Pew report is especially relevant because holiday shopping seasons—when people browse deals under time pressure—are prime opportunities for scammers.

What makes these scams particularly insidious is that they can look convincing. Fraudsters create professional-looking websites, use stolen logos, and even offer “customer service” numbers that ring to a call center operating from overseas. The psychological tactics are also familiar: limited-time offers, steep discounts that seem too good to pass up, and urgent language meant to bypass your normal caution.

For consumers, the takeaway is that no one is immune. Even savvy shoppers can be caught off guard by a well-crafted phishing email that appears to come from a retailer they trust. The key is not just awareness, but a set of concrete habits that reduce risk.

What Readers Can Do

Before you buy

• Stick to known retailers or marketplaces with established reputations. If you find a deal on a site you’ve never heard of, research the domain. Look for contact information, return policies, and reviews from third-party sources—not just testimonials on the site itself.
• Pay with a credit card. Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges to $50, and most card issuers offer zero-liability protection. Debit cards and peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Cash App offer far less protection; once the money is sent, it’s almost impossible to get back.
• Check the URL carefully. Scammers often use addresses that look like the real thing but with a slight misspelling or a different top-level domain (like .shop instead of .com). Also ensure the site uses HTTPS—a padlock icon in the browser bar—though that alone is not a guarantee of legitimacy.
• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or text messages. If you get a “great deal” or a “shipping notification” from a company you don’t recall ordering from, navigate directly to the retailer’s website instead of clicking the link.

If you think you’ve been scammed

• Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. They can freeze the transaction, reverse charges (in many cases), and issue a new card if numbers were compromised.
• Change the passwords on any accounts you used during the suspected scam. Enable two-factor authentication where available.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC shares data with law enforcement agencies and uses it to track trends. You should also report the scam to your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.
• Monitor your bank and credit card statements for the next several weeks. Scammers sometimes make small test charges before larger ones. You can also freeze your credit at the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.

The numbers from Pew make one thing clear: online shopping scams are not rare. They are a predictable risk of doing business online. But with a few deliberate steps—skepticism of too-good deals, use of credit cards, and a plan for recovery—you can dramatically lower your chances of becoming another statistic.

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. “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.” (released annually).