1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself

If you’ve been the victim of an online shopping scam, you’re far from alone. According to the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic comes from a larger report on online scams and attacks, updated with shopping-specific data in November 2025. The numbers are a reminder that online fraud is not a rare edge case—it touches millions of ordinary people.

What happened: The scale of the problem

Pew’s July 2025 report, Online Scams and Attacks in America Today, found that roughly a third of Americans have personally encountered a shopping scam. The survey covered a nationally representative sample and defined “online shopping scam” broadly: fake product listings, phony websites, fraudulent ads, or payments that never delivered goods. The follow-up update in November 2025 confirmed that the figure has stayed consistent.

The research also highlighted related trends. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App, which are often used for marketplace transactions, raise security concerns among many users. And on platforms like TikTok, a majority of users now say they look for product reviews and recommendations there—a habit that scammers can exploit by posting fake endorsements.

Why it matters

Online shopping is now routine for most Americans. The convenience of buying with a few clicks is easy to take for granted. But the same systems that make it simple to shop also make it simple for scammers to set up convincing traps. A fake website can look nearly identical to a real retailer. A social media ad can offer a deal that seems too good to pass up—and the product never arrives.

The impact goes beyond losing a few dollars. Victims often have to deal with unauthorized credit card charges, compromised personal information, and the hassle of disputing transactions. For those who used debit cards or payment apps, recovering money can be much harder than with a traditional credit card.

What you can do: Practical steps to protect yourself

There is no single silver bullet, but a few habits can drastically reduce your risk. Here are the most effective measures:

Before you buy

  • Verify the seller and website. Check the URL carefully: look for misspellings, extra characters, or a domain like “.shop” or “.xyz” that differs from a known retailer’s usual address. If you’re on a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, read recent seller reviews and look for a history of sales.
  • Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. Extreme discounts, especially on popular items, are a classic bait. Compare prices across multiple sites. If a price is 60% lower than anywhere else, treat it as a red flag.
  • Look for a physical address and customer service contact. Legitimate businesses usually provide a verifiable location and a way to reach them. Scam sites often have no contact info or only a generic form.
  • Check for secure connections. The URL should start with “https://” and show a padlock icon. But note: a padlock alone does not guarantee the site is legitimate; it only means data is encrypted. Still, sites with “http://” (no “s”) are riskier.

During checkout

  • Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app with strangers. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection. Under U.S. law, your liability for unauthorized charges is limited to $50 (and many issuers waive it). Debit cards and peer-to-peer apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App generally do not have the same protections when you send money for goods that never arrive.
  • Avoid payment methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These are almost impossible to reverse. Scammers often demand them because they leave no paper trail.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your payment accounts and email. It adds a layer of security even if your password is compromised.

After your purchase

  • Save order confirmations, screenshots, and communications. You may need them if something goes wrong.
  • Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unusual charges, even small ones. Scammers sometimes test with tiny amounts before making a larger unauthorized transaction.

If you are scammed

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge. The sooner you report, the better your chances of a reversal.
  • Change any passwords you used on the site or that might be compromised. Use a unique password for each account.
  • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps track patterns and may assist law enforcement.
  • If you paid with a payment app, report the transaction through the app’s support system and file a dispute if the platform offers one.

Additional resources

Online shopping isn’t going away, and neither are the scams that come with it. But with a little caution and a few consistent steps, you can significantly lower your chances of being next in that one-in-three statistic.