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

If you shop online, you’ve probably seen a deal that seemed too good to pass up—a designer handbag for $30, a new smartphone at half the retail price, or a “limited time” flash sale from a brand you’ve never heard of. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, roughly one out of every three U.S. adults has fallen for a scam like that, or at least had one attempted on them.

These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent real people who ended up with empty bank accounts, compromised credit card numbers, or packages that never arrived. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can avoid becoming part of that one-in-three statistic.

What happened

In November 2025, the Pew Research Center released findings showing that about a third of Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. The survey asked adults about a range of digital frauds, and shopping scams stood out as one of the most common. That aligns with reports from the Federal Trade Commission, which received over 500,000 complaints related to online shopping scams in 2024 alone. The median reported loss was around $200—not life-ruining for most, but enough to hurt, especially when multiplied across millions of victims.

These scams take many forms. Some involve fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers. Others appear as social media marketplace listings for items that don’t exist. Still others rely on phishing ads that direct you to a site designed to steal your payment information. And with the rise of payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle—which often lack the same fraud protections as credit cards—scammers have found an even easier way to take your money before you realize what happened.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams matter because they erode trust in e-commerce and hit people where it hurts: their wallets and their personal data. Pew’s research also indicates that younger adults and those who use social media for shopping are especially vulnerable. As more people turn to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Marketplace to discover and buy products, the opportunities for scammers multiply.

Unlike a brick-and-mortar store where you can examine a product and walk away if something feels off, online transactions happen fast. A few clicks, a rushed payment, and the money is gone—often with little recourse if you paid through a peer-to-peer app. The emotional toll is also real: many victims feel embarrassed or angry at themselves, even though scammers are skilled at manipulation.

The good news: awareness goes a long way. Once you internalize the red flags, you’ll start noticing them before you hand over your money.

What readers can do

You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Start by recognizing the most common scam scenarios:

  • Fake online stores. Scammers set up sites that look just like a real retailer but at impossibly low prices. The design may be slightly off or have broken English. Check for a physical address, a customer service phone number, and reviews from independent sources. Use tools like Whois or ScamAdviser to see how long the domain has existed.

  • Social media marketplace fraud. On Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, or TikTok Shop, sellers may list items they don’t actually own. They pressure you to pay quickly via payment app or wire transfer. Never pay outside the platform’s official system. If a seller insists on Venmo or Zelle for a purchase from a stranger, treat that as a major red flag.

  • Phishing ads and fake shipping notifications. You click an ad for a product you searched for earlier, or you get a text saying “Your package could not be delivered—click here to reschedule.” The link leads to a page that steals your login or credit card details. Always type the retailer’s URL directly rather than clicking unsolicited links.

Protective measures worth adopting:

  • Use a credit card for online purchases whenever possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards or payment apps. If a scam occurs, you can dispute the charge with the card issuer. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App often treat transactions as “friends and family” by default, which means no buyer protection.
  • Research the seller before you buy. Look up their name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Check Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit threads. If you find nothing at all, that can be just as suspicious as a long list of complaints.
  • Look for HTTPS and a padlock icon in the address bar, but understand that even scam sites can have those now. Your best defense is skepticism.
  • Don’t give in to urgency. Scammers often say “Only two left!” or “Sale ends tonight” to rush you. Legitimate sales will still be there tomorrow.

If you do get scammed, here’s your action plan:

  1. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Report the unauthorized transaction and ask for a chargeback or reversal.
  2. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track patterns and sometimes to shut down scam operations.
  3. Report the scam to the platform where you encountered it (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). They may remove the seller’s account.
  4. If you shared personal data like your Social Security number or bank account, consider freezing your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). It’s free and prevents scammers from opening accounts in your name.
  5. Tell a friend. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to stop scams from spreading.

Stay informed, not paranoid

The fact that one in three Americans has encountered an online shopping scam is sobering, but it doesn’t mean you should stop shopping online. It means you should take a little extra time to verify before you pay. The scammers are counting on you to skip that step. If you build the habit of pausing, checking, and using secure payment methods, you’ll likely stay out of that one-third statistic.

Sources:

  • Pew Research Center, “About a Third of Americans Say They’ve Had an Online Shopping Scam Happen to Them,” November 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.
  • Pew Research Center, “Payment Apps Like Venmo and Cash App Bring Convenience – and Security Concerns – to Some Users,” September 2022.