1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself

If you shop online, the odds are not in your favor. According to a recent Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, roughly one-third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s not a niche problem—it’s a common part of modern consumer life. And the numbers are worth paying attention to, not because they’re alarming for their own sake, but because they point to patterns you can protect yourself against.

What happened

Pew’s survey asked Americans about a range of fraud and security issues, and the shopping scam finding stood out. About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The study also touched on related trends: roughly one in five adults has used cryptocurrency, and payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are now widely used, often with lingering security concerns. But the shopping scam data is the most actionable for the average consumer.

The scams fall into a few common categories:

• Phishing emails and texts that pretend to be from a known retailer, asking you to click a link or confirm a payment.
• Fake websites that look almost exactly like a legitimate store’s site, often offering deep discounts to lure you in.
• Non-delivery scams where you pay for an item that never arrives.
• Fraudulent sellers on social media marketplaces, auction sites, or peer-to-peer apps.

These aren’t theoretical. They are the day-to-day reality for millions of people.

Why it matters

The prevalence is high enough that it’s no longer a matter of “if” you might encounter a scam, but “when.” And the consequences go beyond losing the cost of an item. Scammers often capture your credit card number, home address, phone number, and other personal data that can be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web.

Many victims don’t report these incidents because the amounts are small—$20 here, $50 there—but the cumulative damage across the population is enormous. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consistently receives hundreds of thousands of fraud reports each year, and actual numbers are likely higher.

For shoppers, this means that trusting a website just because it looks professional is no longer enough. Even reputable platforms like Amazon or eBay have third-party sellers who can disappear after a sale. The convenience of online shopping now requires a layer of skepticism that didn’t use to be necessary.

What readers can do

You don’t need to stop shopping online. But you should adopt a few habits that make a practical difference.

1. Use a credit card, not debit or direct payment

Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law. If a scammer uses your card, you can dispute the charge and often get your money back. Debit cards and wire transfers, including payment app “friends and family” options, offer little to no recourse. Never pay for goods via gift cards or cryptocurrency—those are almost impossible to recover.

2. Verify the seller before you buy

For an unfamiliar website, do a quick search with the site name plus “scam” or “review.” Check for a physical address and working customer service phone number. If the deal seems too good to be true—say, a new gaming console at 70% off—it’s almost certainly a lure.

3. Look for the basics

Secure sites should have “https://” in the URL and a padlock icon. But be aware that scammers can also get SSL certificates. More reliable: check the URL closely for misspellings or extra words (like “amaz0n-deals . com”).

4. Enable purchase alerts and two-factor authentication

Set up transaction alerts from your credit card or bank so you know immediately if something is charged. Use two-factor authentication on your email and payment accounts so that even if a scammer gets your password, they can’t log in.

5. Keep your devices updated

Software updates often patch security flaws that scammers exploit. Enable automatic updates on your phone, computer, and browser.

6. If you fall victim, act fast

Contact your bank or credit card issuer right away. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Change passwords for the affected accounts and any site where you reuse that password. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report if you suspect identity theft.

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, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users,” September 2022.
• Federal Trade Commission, “How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams,” at consumer.ftc.gov.

The full Pew study is worth reading if you want more detail on the demographics and specific scam types. But the main takeaway is straightforward: online shopping scams are not rare, and a few simple precautions can dramatically reduce your risk. Shop smart, stay skeptical, and keep your payment methods secure.