Nearly One in Three Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived—or received a knockoff that looked nothing like the photo—you’re far from alone. A new survey from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about a third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam.

That number is high enough to treat it as a near-certainty: even if you haven’t been stung yet, someone in your household or social circle likely has. And with holiday shopping, social media ads, and unfamiliar sellers everywhere, the risk isn’t going away.

What the Data Shows

Pew’s survey, part of a broader look at online scams and attacks in America, asked respondents whether they had ever been the victim of an online shopping scam. The answer: roughly 33% said yes. The report defines these scams broadly—they include fake websites that take your money and never ship anything, sellers who deliver counterfeit goods, and fraudulent ads on social media or search engines that lead to phishing pages.

The same research found that younger adults and people who shop frequently on mobile devices or via social media platforms were more likely to report having been scammed. That pattern aligns with earlier Pew data showing that a majority of TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations—meaning the line between browsing and buying is blurrier than ever.

Why This Matters for Everyday Shoppers

The scale is the main takeaway. If a third of Americans have been hit, the problem isn’t rare or niche—it’s a routine hazard of modern online commerce. The financial damage can range from a few dollars lost on a small gadget to hundreds or thousands on electronics or event tickets. Worse, once a scammer has your payment information, they may try to use it elsewhere.

Beyond the money, there’s the erosion of trust. People become hesitant to try new stores, use payment apps, or click on deals that seem legitimate. That hesitation is understandable, but it also means we need better ways to sort the real from the fake.

Practical Steps You Can Take Right Now

No single tip will guarantee safety, but combining a few habits dramatically lowers your odds of being the next statistic.

  • Check the seller, not just the product. If you’re on an unfamiliar website, look for a physical address, phone number, and clear return policy. Search the business name plus “scam” or “complaint” to see what others say.
  • Inspect the URL and padlock icon. Scammers often use addresses that are slight misspellings of real brands (e.g., “amaz0n-deals.com”). While a padlock icon means the connection is encrypted, it does not mean the site is trustworthy—anyone can buy an SSL certificate. Use the padlock as a basic sanity check, not a green light.
  • Prefer credit cards or PayPal over debit cards and wire transfers. Credit cards and services like PayPal offer chargeback rights if the item never arrives. Wire transfers, cryptocurrency, and gift cards are essentially untraceable—scammers demand them because they know you can’t get the money back.
  • Be skeptical of deals that sound too good. A brand-new gaming console or luxury bag at 70% off is nearly always a trap. If the price is far below what you see elsewhere, assume it’s a scam until proven otherwise.
  • Use a separate “shopping” email address. Scammers often sell your email to others. A dedicated address limits spam and makes it easier to spot phishing attempts that reference a recent purchase.
  • Keep records. Save screenshots of the product page, your order confirmation, and any correspondence. You’ll need them if you dispute a charge.

What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

Act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the fraudulent transaction and ask for a chargeback. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov—it won’t get your money back, but it helps them track and shut down scammers. Change any passwords you used on the fake site, and monitor your bank and credit card statements for further unauthorized charges.

If you used a payment app like Venmo or Cash App, note that their buyer protection policies are limited. Report the issue to the app’s support team, but don’t expect a refund unless you used the “goods and services” payment option (which offers some protection) rather than the “friends and family” setting.

Staying Informed

The Pew report is a useful reminder that online shopping scams are not rare anomalies—they are a structural problem that affects a large share of consumers. By staying aware and following a few straightforward rules, you can greatly reduce the chances of losing money or data.

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.
  • Pew Research Center. “For shopping, phones are common and influencers have become a factor – especially for young adults.” November 2022.
  • Pew Research Center. “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.” September 2022.