1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them

In November 2025, the Pew Research Center released a sobering statistic: about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure lines up with what many consumer protection agencies have been reporting for years—fraud is no longer a rare event but a routine hazard of buying things online. Whether you are a seasoned e‑commerce shopper or someone just starting to order groceries through an app, the risk is real and growing.

This article walks through what Pew’s data actually says, why it matters to ordinary buyers, and the specific steps you can take to protect yourself.

What Happened: The Scope of the Problem

Pew’s survey asked Americans whether they had ever been the target of an online shopping scam—meaning a purchase that turned out to be fake, a site that took money and never delivered, or a payment app transfer that vanished into a stranger’s account. Roughly one in three respondents said yes. The research also found that younger adults and people who shop frequently on social media or through influencer links were more likely to report being scammed.

This is not a small corner of the internet. Pew’s earlier studies on payment apps like Venmo and Cash App (2022) showed that many users were uncertain about how those platforms handle disputes. And a separate 2024 study found that a majority of TikTok users turn to the app for product reviews and recommendations—a space where fake endorsements and counterfeit goods are common. Together, these findings paint a picture of an ecosystem where convenience and trust are often exploited.

Why It Matters to You

Online shopping scams are not just a minor annoyance. Victims lose money—sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars—and can also have their personal information stolen, leading to identity theft. Because scams have become so common, many people assume they would never fall for one. Yet scammers are getting better at mimicking real retailers, using sophisticated websites, fake customer service chats, and targeted phishing emails.

The real danger is that the line between a legitimate deal and a trap has blurred. Deep discounts, limited‑time offers, and social media ads from “influencers” you follow can all be part of a scam. If you have ever clicked a link from an Instagram story or bought something from a Facebook Marketplace listing without checking the seller, you are in the demographic that Pew’s data captures.

What Readers Can Do: Spotting and Avoiding the Most Common Traps

No one is immune, but you can greatly reduce your odds by following a few simple practices.

1. Check the site before you buy. Look at the URL carefully. Scammers often register addresses that are one letter off from a real brand (like “amaz0n‑deals.com”). If the site has no contact information, no returns policy, or pages full of broken English, take it as a red flag. For smaller or unfamiliar stores, search for the company name plus the word “scam” to see if others have complained.

2. Pay with a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under U.S. law. Debit cards and bank transfers can be harder to recover. Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle are designed for sending money between people you trust, not for buying from unknown sellers. If a seller insists on using one of those apps, it is a strong warning sign.

3. Be wary of extreme discounts and pressure tactics. A new iPhone for $200 or a designer handbag for $30 is almost certainly fake. Scammers create urgency—“Only 3 left at this price!”—to push you past your normal caution. Slow down. Do a reverse image search on the product photo; if it appears on multiple unrelated sites, the listing is likely bogus.

4. Vet social media ads and influencer recommendations. Pew’s TikTok data shows that many young adults trust product reviews from creators they follow. Scammers know this and pay for fake endorsements or create bot accounts that rave about a product. Look for verified purchase badges, check the seller’s own website, and read reviews on independent platforms like the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot.

5. Avoid public Wi‑Fi for shopping. Using a café or airport network to enter your credit card number is risky—a hacker on the same network could intercept the data. If you must shop on the go, use your phone’s cellular data or a trusted VPN.

If you think you’ve been scammed: Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to stop payment. Then file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Change passwords for any accounts you used, monitor your bank statements for unusual activity, and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.

Staying Vigilant

Pew’s statistic is a reminder that online shopping scams are no longer an occasional nuisance—they are a routine part of the digital marketplace. The good news is that the same habits that protect you from one scam often protect you from many others. Check before you click, pay with methods that offer recourse, and trust your gut when a deal seems too good to be true.

If you found this guide useful, consider sharing it with a friend or family member who might not follow security news closely. Awareness is the simplest tool we have.

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).
  • Pew Research Center, “A majority of U.S. TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations” (November 2024).
  • Federal Trade Commission, “ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”