Almost 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Protect Yourself
If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true ad on social media or bought something from an unfamiliar website only to receive nothing—or a counterfeit—you are far from alone. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure puts the problem squarely in the mainstream, not on the fringes of the internet.
The survey, published in November 2025, covers a range of online scams, but shopping fraud stood out because of how common it has become. As holiday shopping ramps up and more people turn to mobile apps and social media for deals, understanding the risks and knowing how to react can save you money and frustration.
What the Data Shows
Pew’s survey asked U.S. adults whether they had personally experienced various types of online scams. About 33% reported falling victim to an online shopping scam specifically. That includes fake websites, phony listings on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, payment app fraud through Venmo or Cash App, and counterfeit goods that were never delivered or were not as described.
The research also highlights broader trends: a majority of TikTok users say they are on the platform for product reviews and recommendations, and younger adults are especially likely to shop via their phones and to be influenced by social media personalities. Those behaviors create new openings for scammers who exploit trust in influencers and shortcuts in payment methods.
Why This Matters for Shoppers
Online shopping scams don’t just cost you the price of the item—they can expose your credit card number, bank account details, and personal information. In some cases, scammers use the data to commit identity theft or sell it on the dark web. The financial loss from a single scam might be small, but the downstream effects can be larger and harder to reverse.
The Pew report underscores that this is not a niche problem. One in three people you know has likely dealt with it. With the holiday season approaching—when people are more rushed, more willing to try new sellers, and more likely to click links in emails or texts—the risk spikes.
How to Protect Yourself
You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. A handful of habits can cut your risk considerably.
Stick with credit cards when possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards, bank transfers, or payment apps. If a transaction turns out to be a scam, you can dispute the charge and often get your money back. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are designed for friends and family, not for purchases from strangers—once you send money, it is very hard to recover.
Research the seller before you buy. A quick search of the store name plus “scam” or “review” can reveal warnings. Look for contact information, a physical address, and a return policy. If the only way to reach the seller is a Gmail address or a web form, treat it as a red flag.
Check the URL carefully. Scammers often register addresses that look almost identical to real stores but swap a letter or use a different domain extension (.shop instead of .com). Hover over links before clicking them. If the URL looks odd, don’t enter payment information.
Be skeptical of deals that seem impossibly low. If a brand-name jacket is listed at 90% off, there is usually a catch. Scammers create urgency with phrases like “only 3 left” or “sale ends tonight” to push you into acting without thinking.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi for purchases. Airport, coffee shop, and hotel networks are easy for attackers to intercept. Use your mobile data or a VPN if you need to shop on the go, but ideally make purchases on a trusted home network.
Enable two-factor authentication on your email and payment accounts. This extra step can stop someone who steals your password from completing a transaction.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you realize you’ve paid for something that never arrived or that was clearly counterfeit, act quickly.
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the fraud and ask for a chargeback. Most card issuers have a limited window to dispute charges, so do not delay.
- Change your passwords for any accounts you used during the transaction. If you reused that password elsewhere, change those accounts too. Use a unique, strong password for each site.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you used a payment app, also report it to the app’s support team. For scams that involve larger sums or identity theft, you can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
- Monitor your accounts for unusual activity. Set up alerts for transactions over a small amount so you catch unauthorized charges quickly.
Staying Ahead of the Scammers
No single precaution will guarantee safety, but layering a few simple habits makes you a much harder target. The Pew data shows that online shopping scams are widespread, but awareness and caution can prevent most of them. Before you click “buy,” pause for a few seconds: check the price, the seller, the URL, and the payment method. That small habit is often enough to stop a scam in its tracks.
For more detail, read the full Pew Research Center survey: About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them (November 2025). The FTC also offers a helpful guide on avoiding online shopping scams.