Nearly One in Three Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: What to Know

If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media or gotten a suspicious email about a package delivery, you’re not alone. A new study from the Pew Research Center found that roughly a third of U.S. adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a lot of people—and the number is likely still growing as more of us shop from our phones and laptops. While the convenience of buying online isn’t going away, it pays to know how these scams work and how to steer clear.

What Happened

The Pew Research Center survey, published in late 2025, asked Americans about their encounters with online scams. About 32% of respondents reported that they had been the target or victim of an online shopping scam—fraud where someone tried to sell them something that didn’t exist, never delivered, or charged them using a fake or insecure payment method. The study is part of a broader look at online threats, and the findings align with earlier Pew reports showing that payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience but also security concerns.

Common scams include:

  • Fake websites that mimic legitimate stores, often with slightly misspelled URLs.
  • Phishing emails or texts pretending to be from retailers or shipping companies, asking for personal information or payment.
  • Fraudulent social media ads that lead to lookalike storefronts, especially for high-demand items like sneakers, electronics, or holiday gifts.
  • Scammers on peer-to-peer marketplaces who pressure buyers into using payment apps without buyer protection.

The takeaway: online shopping scams are widespread and affect people across ages and income levels.

Why It Matters

A third of Americans is not a small fringe. That statistic means that nearly everyone knows someone who has been scammed while shopping online, and millions of dollars are lost each year. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network data consistently shows online shopping fraud as one of the top categories of consumer complaints. Beyond the financial loss, victims often have to deal with identity theft, fraudulent charges, and the hassle of trying to recover their money.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many people don’t know how to spot a scam until it’s too late. Scammers are skilled at creating urgency (“only 3 left!”) and using trusted brand names to lower your guard. With the holiday shopping season and year-round deal culture making us click faster, it’s essential to slow down and verify.

What You Can Do

Here are concrete steps to reduce your risk when shopping online:

  1. Check the seller before you buy. If you’re on a site you haven’t used before, search for reviews outside the website. Look for independent feedback on Reddit, Trustpilot, or the Better Business Bureau. Also, check the URL: legitimate sites usually have a padlock icon and start with “https://”.

  2. Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards, wire transfers, or payment app “friends and family” options. Many cards have zero-liability policies for unauthorized charges. If a seller insists on a wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, that’s a major red flag.

  3. Beware of too-good-to-be-true prices. Scammers often lure people with discounts that don’t exist elsewhere. If the price is significantly lower than every other retailer, something is likely off. Also, watch for deals that require you to act immediately—that’s a common pressure tactic.

  4. Don’t click links in unsolicited emails or texts. If you get a message about a shipping problem or a “special offer” from a store you don’t remember ordering from, go directly to the store’s official website rather than clicking the link. Phishing links can steal your login credentials or install malware.

  5. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication. This is especially important for accounts that store your payment info. Password managers make it easier to keep each account separate.

  6. Monitor your bank and credit card statements. Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount, and review statements monthly. The sooner you spot a fraudulent charge, the easier it is to dispute.

  7. If you do get scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the charge. Then file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the amount is significant or if you suspect identity theft.

Staying Ahead

The fact that one in three Americans has been hit by an online shopping scam is a sobering reminder that fraud is not just a headline—it’s part of everyday digital life. But awareness and a few simple habits can make a real difference. Before you click “buy,” take an extra minute to verify the seller, protect your payment method, and trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

The numbers from Pew won’t change overnight, but your personal risk can drop significantly once you know what to watch for.

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: Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024