One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: What to Watch For and How to Stay Safe

Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it comes with a risk that’s more common than many realize. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 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 mainstream experience. Whether you’re buying from a big retailer, a social media marketplace, or a small shop you found through an ad, the chance of encountering a fraudulent seller is real. Here’s what the data shows and, more importantly, what you can do about it.

What happened

Pew Research Center reported in November 2025 that 33% of U.S. adults have personally experienced an online shopping scam. The survey also found that scams are especially common on social media platforms and payment apps. For example, earlier Pew research indicated that about one in five Americans have used payment apps like Venmo or Cash App to make purchases, and those transactions often lack the same protections as credit card purchases. Meanwhile, a separate Pew survey noted that a majority of TikTok users are on the platform for product reviews and recommendations—creating fertile ground for scammers posing as legitimate sellers.

The scams themselves take a few familiar forms: fake websites that look like real stores, phishing emails or texts that claim there’s a problem with your order, sellers on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram who take payment but never ship anything, and payment app tricks where someone asks you to send money via “friends and family” to avoid fees.

Why it matters

A one-in-three rate means that even if you haven’t been hit yet, you almost certainly know someone who has. The financial impact can range from a few lost dollars to several hundred, but the hassle of disputing charges, changing passwords, and worrying about compromised personal information adds up. Worse, many victims don’t report the scam because they’re embarrassed or unsure where to go. That silence lets scammers keep operating.

The problem is growing because bad actors keep refining their methods. Fake websites now use SSL certificates and professional-looking templates. Social media ads can be targeted to people who have recently searched for specific products. And payment apps make it easy to send money instantly with little recourse.

What readers can do

You don’t need to stop shopping online, but you do need to slow down and check a few things before you click “buy.” Here are practical steps that reduce your risk.

  • Use a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards, and you can dispute a charge if the item never arrives or isn’t as described. Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle are not designed for purchases with strangers—they’re meant for people you know. If a seller insists on payment via a friend/family option, that’s a red flag.

  • Verify the website carefully. Look for the full business name, a physical address, and a phone number that works. Do a quick search for the store name plus the word “scam” to see if others have reported problems. Check the site’s URL for subtle misspellings (like “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”).

  • Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. A brand-new iPhone for $200 or a luxury handbag at 90% off is almost certainly a trick. Scammers use low prices to create urgency. If you feel rushed to buy before the offer expires, take a step back.

  • Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. Phishing emails or texts often pretend to be from Amazon, Walmart, or a shipping company. Go directly to the retailer’s website or app instead of clicking a link that warns about a package problem.

  • Check reviews on independent sites. Seller ratings on a platform like Etsy or eBay can be faked. Cross-reference with Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, or Reddit threads. Be wary of reviews that are all five stars with the same generic language.

  • Know what to do if you are scammed. Act fast. Contact your bank or credit card company to report the fraudulent charge. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you paid via a payment app, file a dispute through the app (though success varies). Change your passwords and monitor your accounts for unusual activity. If you shared personal information, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.

Vigilance doesn’t mean distrusting every website—it means building a few habits that take thirty seconds but save hours of hassle. The next time you’re about to check out, pause and run through the checklist. That one pause might be the difference between a good deal and a costly mistake.

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, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users,” September 2022.
  • Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov.