1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online – Here’s How to Stay Safe

According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that as convenient as digital shopping is, it also carries real risks – especially during peak seasons when scammers become more active.

If you shop online – and most of us do – it’s worth taking a few minutes to understand how these scams work and what you can do to protect yourself.

What Happened

Pew’s research, based on a nationally representative survey, found that roughly 33% of American adults have fallen victim to some kind of online shopping fraud. The study also highlighted several common vectors: fake websites that look like real stores, phishing emails pretending to be from well-known retailers, fraudulent ads on social media, and payment-app scams where money is lost with little recourse.

Separate Pew data from earlier in 2025 (July) confirmed that online scams and attacks remain a widespread problem across the country. Meanwhile, a 2024 survey showed that a majority of TikTok users rely on the platform for product reviews and recommendations – a trend that scammers have not been slow to exploit.

Why It Matters

Online shopping isn’t going anywhere. For many people, it’s the primary way they buy everything from groceries to electronics. During holiday shopping periods, the volume of transactions spikes, and so does the number of scam attempts. Scammers know consumers are looking for deals and may be less cautious than usual.

The problem is not limited to obvious phishing emails. Fake storefronts on social media, too-good-to-be-true discounts from unknown sellers, and requests to pay via unreversible methods like gift cards or wire transfers are all increasingly common. Younger adults, who are more likely to shop via social media and use peer-to-peer payment apps, are especially at risk.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to be an expert to avoid most online shopping scams. A few habits can cut your risk significantly.

1. Spot the Red Flags

  • URLs that are slightly off. Scammers often register domains that look like a real store’s but have a typo or extra word. For example, “amaz0n-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com.” Always double-check the address bar.
  • Unrealistic discounts. If a new iPhone is listed for $200, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  • Pressure to pay a specific way. Legitimate sellers accept credit cards. Be very suspicious of anyone who insists on gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
  • No contact information or a poor return policy. Real businesses provide a physical address and a customer service phone number or email. Vague or missing details are a warning sign.

2. Use Safer Payment Methods

Credit cards offer the strongest consumer protections under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). If you don’t receive the item or it’s misrepresented, you can dispute the charge. Debit cards provide much weaker protections. Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle are designed for person-to-person transfers, not purchases from strangers. Many do not offer purchase protection, and once the money is sent, recovering it is difficult.

Whenever possible, use a credit card for online purchases. If you must use a debit card, make sure it has a Visa or Mastercard logo and offers zero-liability fraud protection – but even then, keep the amount low.

3. Research Before You Buy

  • Search for the seller’s name plus “scam” or “review” to see what others have experienced.
  • Check the website’s age using a domain lookup tool. Brand-new sites with no track record are riskier.
  • Stick with established platforms (Amazon, eBay, Etsy) that have buyer protection programs. Be more cautious when buying from a seller you found on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Marketplace.

4. Keep Security Basics in Place

  • Enable two-factor authentication on your email, payment accounts, and shopping accounts. This won’t stop scams, but it makes it harder for someone to hijack your account.
  • Use a different password for each site. A password manager can help.
  • Be wary of unsolicited emails that contain links or attachments, even if they appear to come from a retailer you use. Open a new browser tab and go to the site directly instead.

5. What to Do If You Get Scammed

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the unauthorized transaction. The sooner you act, the better your chance of getting your money back.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This helps law enforcement track scam trends.
  • Change the passwords for any accounts that may have been exposed. If you used the same password elsewhere, change those too.
  • Monitor your bank and credit card statements for a few weeks after the incident.

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, “What to Do If You Were Scammed.”