One in Three Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: What to Know

If you shop online regularly, you may be surprised—or sadly not—by a new statistic from the Pew Research Center: about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That revelation, published in November 2025, confirms that fraud isn’t an edge case anymore; it’s a common risk for ordinary consumers.

The data arrives just ahead of the busy holiday season, when bargain hunters and gift buyers are especially vulnerable. But with a clear understanding of how these scams work and a few simple precautions, you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

What Happened

Pew’s survey, conducted in October 2025, asked Americans whether they had ever fallen for an online shopping scam. The result: 33% said yes. That’s a notable increase from earlier Pew reports that tracked related fraud (for example, a 2022 study on payment app scams found that 13% of users had sent money to a scammer). The new figure suggests that scams have become more widespread and are hitting a broader cross-section of shoppers.

The report doesn’t detail every method, but other Pew research and consumer protection data point to common patterns:

  • Fake online stores that look legitimate but never deliver goods.
  • Deceptive social media ads, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where influencers promote products that don’t exist or are counterfeit.
  • Phishing emails and texts that impersonate retailers and ask for payment information or login credentials.
  • Payment app fraud, where scammers pressure buyers into using Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle—transactions that are nearly impossible to reverse.

Why It Matters

One in three means that in any group of friends or family, several people have likely been taken. The financial damage can range from a small wasted purchase to thousands of dollars, and the emotional toll—shame, frustration, loss of trust—can linger. For older adults and less tech-savvy consumers, the risk is even higher because scammers specifically target those who may not recognize red flags.

Online shopping isn’t going away; nearly all of us rely on it. The question is whether we can learn to spot scams before we hit “buy.”

What Readers Can Do

You can protect yourself without giving up the convenience of digital shopping. Here are steps that work, based on advice from the Federal Trade Commission and cybersecurity experts.

1. Stick to trusted retailers and verified sellers.
If you find a deal on a site you’ve never heard of, pause. Look for contact information (physical address, customer service phone number) and check independent reviews—not just the ones on the site. For marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, read seller ratings and avoid new sellers with no history.

2. Pay with a credit card or a payment service that offers buyer protection.
Credit cards give you the right to dispute charges if the item never arrives or isn’t as described. Debit cards, wire transfers, and peer-to-peer payment apps (except for purchases from known sellers) often provide little to no recourse. Never pay for an online purchase with a gift card or cryptocurrency—that’s a major red flag.

3. Be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true prices and urgent deadlines.
Scammers often lure shoppers with extreme discounts, especially during holiday sales. They may also create fake urgency—“Only 3 left!” or “Flash sale ends tonight!”—to rush you into a bad decision. Take a breath and verify.

4. Check the URL and look for security indicators.
Before entering payment information, make sure the website address starts with “https” (the “s” stands for secure). But don’t rely on that alone; sophisticated scammers can spoof secure sites. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and consider clicking it to view the certificate details.

5. Enable purchase alerts and two-factor authentication on your accounts.
Most credit card issuers and payment services allow you to set up email or text notifications for each transaction. This way you’ll immediately know if a charge appears that you didn’t authorize. Turning on two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your shopping accounts.

6. If something feels off, don’t click links.
Unsolicited emails or texts claiming you’ve won a prize or need to “confirm your order” are common phishing attempts. Instead of clicking the link, open a new browser window and go directly to the retailer’s website. Type the address yourself or use a saved bookmark.

What to do if you’ve been scammed:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the fraud and request a chargeback.
  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Change passwords for the affected accounts and any others that use the same password.
  • Monitor your credit reports for signs of identity theft (you can get free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com).

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

No one is immune, but you don’t have to be one of the one in three. The best defense is a mix of skepticism and good habits: slow down, verify before you pay, and use payment methods that give you recourse. The holiday season is the most tempting time for scammers, but it’s also the best time to start practicing these steps.

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.
  • Pew Research Center, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users,” September 8, 2022.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams,” ftc.gov.