1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Stay Safe

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Stay Safe

A new survey from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are remarkably common. According to the data, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults—a figure high enough to warrant a closer look at how these scams work and what you can do to avoid becoming the next victim.

What Happened

Pew’s survey, part of a broader study on online scams and attacks, asked adults about their personal experiences with fraudulent shopping situations. The results showed that 33 percent of respondents reported encountering at least one incident that they considered a scam. The most frequently cited scenarios included phishing emails pretending to be from a retailer, fake storefronts that looked legitimate but never delivered goods, and demands for payment via apps like Venmo or Cash App that offered no buyer protection. Non-delivery scams—where you pay for an item and it simply never arrives—were especially common.

The survey also found that younger adults, those who shop frequently on mobile devices, and people who follow influencer product recommendations were more likely to report being scammed. This aligns with earlier Pew research showing that payment apps are widely used but also raise security concerns, and that a majority of TikTok users rely on the platform for product reviews—a channel scammers have learned to exploit.

These numbers aren’t a surprise to consumer protection agencies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has long warned that online shopping scams are among the most reported fraud types, and that they tend to spike during holiday shopping seasons.

Why It Matters

One in three Americans directly affected means that even if you haven’t been scammed yourself, you almost certainly know someone who has. The financial losses vary, but they can range from a few dollars to hundreds or even thousands. More importantly, scams often lead to identity theft when victims hand over personal information—names, addresses, credit card numbers, or bank account details—thinking they’re making a legitimate purchase.

Beyond the immediate monetary damage, these incidents erode trust in online commerce. People become hesitant to buy from unfamiliar stores, avoid certain payment methods, or second-guess every deal they see. That caution is healthy, but it also means legitimate small businesses and honest sellers lose out.

The survey’s timing is also notable. With the holiday shopping season already underway, scam attempts are likely to increase. Knowing the warning signs now can save you from a headache later.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. Most common scams follow predictable patterns, and you can defend against them with a few straightforward habits.

Look for red flags before you click “buy.”

• If a price seems too good to be true—say, a $200 item listed for $30—it probably is.
• Be wary of websites that look sloppy: odd URLs, missing contact information, bad grammar, or stock photos that seem reused across multiple product pages.
• Scammers often demand urgent payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps. Legitimate merchants accept credit cards and offer clear return policies.

Pay with a credit card when possible.
Credit cards generally provide stronger fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps. If a charge is unauthorized or you never receive the item, you can dispute it with your card issuer. Debit cards don’t always offer the same safeguards, and money sent through Venmo or Cash App is rarely recoverable unless you use the “goods and services” feature—which many people don’t.

Verify the seller’s reputation.
Before buying from a store you’ve never heard of, search for reviews from other customers. Check sites like the Better Business Bureau or simply search “[store name] scam” to see if complaints surface. Look for social media accounts that seem active and authentic, but remember that fake followers and bots can make a scammer look legitimate.

Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi.
Public networks in coffee shops or airports are easy for attackers to intercept. If you must shop on the go, use your phone’s cellular data or a trusted VPN.

Enable purchase alerts.
Most banks and card issuers let you set up notifications for every transaction, no matter how small. That way, you’ll know immediately if someone uses your card fraudulently.

If you’ve been scammed, act quickly.

• Contact your bank or credit card company to report the transaction and freeze the card.
• Change your passwords, especially for the account you used to pay.
• Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps them track trends and take action against repeat offenders.
• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) if you think your Social Security number or other sensitive data was compromised.

No method is foolproof, but taking these steps dramatically lowers your odds of getting caught. The survey’s findings are a useful reminder that scams are widespread, not a reason to panic. A little skepticism and a few quick checks before checking out can make all the difference.

Sources

• Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 19, 2025.
• Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 31, 2025.
• Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams.”