One in Three Americans Has Faced an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s How to Protect Yourself

Intro

If you’ve ever clicked “buy now” on a suspiciously cheap item and later found the website vanished, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33% of U.S. adults who have lost money, received counterfeit goods, or had their payment details stolen after someone posed as a legitimate seller.

With holiday shopping season ramping up and more people buying from unfamiliar sellers on social media, third-party marketplaces, and flash sale sites, the risk is only growing. This article breaks down what the Pew data tells us about who gets scammed, how these scams work, and—most importantly—what you can do to avoid becoming the next statistic.

What Happened

Pew’s survey, conducted in 2025, asked U.S. adults about their personal experiences with a range of online scams. For shopping-specific fraud, the finding was clear: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The study didn’t break down every variety, but based on complementary research from Pew and other consumer protection agencies, the most common types include:

  • Fake websites and lookalike stores – scammers copy legitimate brand sites or create convincing one-page stores for popular products that never ship.
  • Phishing emails or texts – messages that appear to be from Amazon, Walmart, or a shipping carrier asking you to click a link to “confirm your order” or “track a package.” The link leads to a page that steals your login or payment info.
  • Counterfeit or misrepresented goods – the item arrives but is clearly not what was advertised (wrong size, poor quality, or a knockoff).
  • Payment app fraud – sellers demand payment via Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle (services with limited fraud protections) and then disappear.
  • Social media marketplace scams – fake listings on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, or TikTok Shop where the seller has no real inventory and blocks the buyer after payment.

Pew also noted that younger adults (ages 18–29) are more likely to encounter these scams, partly because they shop more frequently on social platforms and mobile apps, but older adults can lose more money per incident because they may be less familiar with scam red flags.

Why It Matters

Online shopping is convenient, but it also creates a distance between buyer and seller that scammers exploit. Unlike buying from a brick-and-mortar store, you can’t inspect the product before paying, and the “store” may exist for only a few days. The Pew data shows this isn’t a fringe problem: roughly one in three Americans has been directly affected. For many, the financial loss is small (under $50), but for others it can be hundreds of dollars—and the hassle of disputing charges or replacing stolen identity documents can take weeks.

Beyond individual losses, widespread scam experiences erode trust in e-commerce. If too many people get burned, they may stop buying from smaller sellers altogether, hurting legitimate businesses. Understanding how to separate real offers from traps helps protect not only your wallet but also the health of online marketplaces.

What Readers Can Do

Here are concrete steps you can take to reduce your risk, based on guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumer protection experts, and patterns observed in Pew’s data.

Before You Buy

  • Verify the seller. If you’re on an unfamiliar website, search for the store name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Look for contact info and a physical address. Be wary if the only way to reach them is a Gmail address or a chatbot.
  • Check the payment method. Use a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer strongest fraud protection under federal law (you can dispute charges). Debit cards have weaker protections, and payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App generally do not offer buyer protection for transactions with strangers—treat them like cash.
  • Look for HTTPS and a secure checkout. The URL should start with “https://” and show a padlock icon. That alone isn’t a guarantee (scammers can get SSL certificates too), but it’s a minimum requirement.
  • Read reviews—carefully. Fake reviews are common. Look for reviews that mention specific product details, include photos, or seem overly repetitive. Sites like Fakespot or ReviewMeta can help analyze review authenticity.
  • Beware of deals that are too good. If a $1,000 laptop is listed for $150, assume it’s a scam. Scammers use low prices to trigger impulse purchases before you have time to verify.

How to Shop More Securely

  • Use a separate “shopping” email for accounts on marketplace sites. This limits phishing exposure if that account gets compromised.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your email and any payment accounts (PayPal, credit card portals, etc.).
  • Avoid clicking links in unsolicited shipping notifications. Instead, go directly to the carrier’s website and enter the tracking number.
  • For social media purchases, use platform-specific buyer protection if available (e.g., Facebook Purchase Protection, TikTok Shop’s refund policy). Screenshot the listing and seller profile before paying.

What to Do If You Get Scammed

  1. Stop all communication with the scammer. Do not send more money or give them additional personal information.
  2. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraudulent and request a chargeback. For debit cards, call your bank; for payment apps, file a dispute through the app (success rate is low for apps, but still try).
  3. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps them track patterns and may lead to enforcement actions.
  4. Report the fraudulent listing to the platform where you found it (eBay, Amazon, Facebook, etc.). Most platforms have a “report” button.
  5. If you shared personal information (like your Social Security number or driver’s license), consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and monitor your credit for unusual accounts.
  6. Change your passwords for any accounts you used on the scam website, especially if you reused passwords elsewhere.

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. “Online shopping scams.” Consumer Advice.
  • Pew Research Center. “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today.” July 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.” September 2022.

Staying safe while shopping online doesn’t require paranoia—just a few habits that become second nature. The Pew data reminds us that scams are common, but with the right precautions, you can keep your money and your personal information where they belong.