1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: Here’s How to Avoid Them

If you’ve ever clicked “buy” on a deal that seemed too good to be true, only to receive nothing—or worse, a knockoff—you’re far from alone. According to a November 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 niche problem; it’s a widespread consumer risk that touches millions of households.

The same report found that online shopping scams were among the most common types of fraud Americans encountered, second only to phishing attempts. And the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has noted that online shopping scams were the second most reported fraud category in 2024, with median losses often in the hundreds of dollars. The numbers make clear: this isn’t a matter of if you might encounter a scam, but when.

What Happened? The Pew Data in Context

The Pew survey asked Americans whether they had personally experienced a range of online scams. For shopping scams specifically, roughly 32% of respondents said yes. That figure cuts across age groups, though younger adults (18–29) reported slightly higher rates, likely because they shop online more frequently and across multiple platforms.

Scammers have grown more sophisticated. Fake websites mimic major retailers. Social media ads push counterfeit goods. Payment app requests for “friends and family” transfers circumvent buyer protection. And fake reviews—sometimes hundreds at a time—make dubious sellers look legitimate. The Pew data confirms what many consumer advocates have been saying for years: the problem is large, and it’s not going away on its own.

Why It Matters for Your Wallet and Privacy

An online shopping scam is more than just a lost payment. Once you enter your credit card number, address, and other personal details on a fraudulent site, that information can be sold or used for identity theft. In some cases, scammers use the stolen data to make additional purchases or open accounts in your name.

Beyond financial loss, there’s the frustration and time lost disputing charges, replacing cards, and monitoring credit reports. The emotional toll is real too: many victims report feeling embarrassed or naive, which can discourage them from reporting the scam. That reluctance only helps scammers continue their operations.

What Readers Can Do: Practical Steps to Protect Yourself

You don’t need to stop shopping online altogether, but you do need to build a few habits that make scams much harder to pull off.

1. Verify the seller before you pay.
If you’re buying from a small business or an unfamiliar website, search for the company name plus “scam” or “review” to see warning signs. Check for a physical address and a working customer service phone number. Legitimate businesses usually have some kind of verifiable footprint.

2. Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app.
Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection under federal law. If a charge is unauthorized, you can dispute it and the card issuer is required to investigate. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App, on the other hand, are designed for person-to-person transfers and offer little recourse if you send money to a scammer. Many scams specifically ask for payment via these apps because the money is nearly impossible to recover.

3. Look for URL and website red flags.
Scammers often register domains that look nearly identical to a real store’s—like “amaz0n-deals.com” or “walmart-discounts.shop.” Check the address bar. Legitimate sites use “https://” and a padlock icon. That’s not a guarantee of safety (phishers can get SSL certificates too), but its absence is a reliable warning. Also watch for poor grammar, odd product descriptions, or prices that are dramatically lower than anywhere else.

4. Don’t rush.
Scammers create urgency: “Only 2 left at this price!” or “Sale ends in 10 minutes.” Legitimate sales almost never require you to decide within minutes. Step back. If the deal is real, it will still be there after a quick background check.

5. Keep your software and devices updated.
This one is easy to overlook, but outdated phones, browsers, and operating systems can have security holes that scammers exploit. Regular updates close those holes.

6. If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly.
First, contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the fraudulent charge and request a chargeback if eligible. Then change the password for the account you used and for any other accounts that share that password. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov—even if you think the amount is small. Reports help law enforcement track patterns. Finally, monitor your credit reports (you can get free weekly reports from AnnualCreditReport.com) for any new accounts you didn’t open.

The Bottom Line

The fact that one in three Americans has already been hit by an online shopping scam means the odds are uncomfortably high that you or someone you know will encounter one. But the same Pew research also offers a hopeful note: awareness is growing. By knowing what to look for and building a few simple habits, you can dramatically reduce your risk. The key is to slow down, verify before you pay, and use payment methods that give you a safety net.

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, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.
FTC, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams,” ftc.gov.