1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online. Here’s How to Avoid It.
Online shopping has become so routine that it’s easy to forget how quickly a good deal can turn into a loss. According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s not a fringe problem—it’s a widespread threat that touches people across age groups, income levels, and shopping platforms.
The timing matters. With holiday shopping already underway, scam attempts tend to spike. Knowing what to watch for and how to protect yourself can save you money, time, and frustration.
What happened
Pew’s survey, fielded in October 2025, found that roughly 33% of U.S. adults have personally experienced an online shopping scam. The report is part of a broader research series on online scams and attacks in America, which earlier in 2025 noted that phishing, fake websites, and marketplace fraud are among the most common tactics. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App were highlighted as particularly risky in a separate 2022 Pew study, because they often lack the fraud protections that credit cards offer.
The data isn’t just a snapshot—it confirms a trend. As online shopping has grown, so have the methods scammers use to exploit it. Fake ads on social media, phishing emails pretending to be from retailers, and fraudulent sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist all feed into the statistics.
Why it matters
When you’re scammed while shopping online, the immediate loss is often the cost of the item—but it’s rarely just that. Scammers frequently collect your name, address, phone number, and payment details. That information can be used for identity theft or sold to other criminals. Even if you get your money back through a chargeback or bank dispute, the personal data is already out there.
The risk is higher with certain payment methods. Credit cards typically allow you to dispute charges and get a refund if the item never arrives or is counterfeit. Debit cards have some protections, but recovering stolen funds can take weeks. Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle are the most dangerous for shopping transactions because they were designed for person-to-person transfers, not commercial purchases. Many of these apps explicitly warn users not to send money to strangers for goods, yet people do it anyway—often because a seller pressures them to use “friends and family” to avoid fees, which also removes buyer protection.
What readers can do
You don’t need to stop shopping online, but you can take steps to reduce your risk.
Stick to credit cards when possible. Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). If a transaction is unauthorized or the item never shows up, you can dispute the charge. Debit cards have weaker protections, and payment apps generally have none for purchases. If a seller insists on Venmo or Cash App and refuses to take a credit card, treat that as a red flag.
Verify the seller or website. Before buying from a site you don’t know, search for reviews—but not just on the site itself. Look for independent feedback on sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit. Scammers often post fake five-star reviews on their own pages. Check for a physical address, phone number, and clear return policy. If the site looks hastily built, with broken English and low-quality images, proceed with caution.
Watch for deals that are too good. Scammers rely on urgency and low prices. If a new iPhone is listed for $200 or a luxury handbag is 90% off, it’s almost certainly a fake or a nonexistent item. High-pressure tactics like “only 2 left” or “sale ends in 10 minutes” are designed to make you skip your normal checks.
Use trusted platforms and buyer protection. Sites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy have built-in dispute resolution. Even if you’re using Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, meet in person if possible and pay in cash. Never send money to someone you haven’t met for a product you haven’t seen.
Keep your accounts secure. Use a unique password for each shopping site, and enable two-factor authentication where it’s offered. That way, even if a scammer gets your password from a data breach, they can’t log into your account.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
Act quickly. First, contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the transaction and request a chargeback. Then change the password on the account you used, and any other accounts that share that password. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track patterns and sometimes to shut down fraudulent operations.
If you paid through Venmo or Cash App, contact their support team—but don’t expect a full refund. You should also monitor your credit report for any unusual activity in the months after.
Online shopping scams are common, but they’re not inevitable. A few habits—paying with a credit card, verifying sellers, and ignoring too-good-to-be-true offers—can keep you out of the one-in-three statistic.
Sources: Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them” (Nov 2025); “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today” (Jul 2025); “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users” (Sep 2022).