How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived—or worse, handed over your card details to a site that turned out to be fake—you’re not alone.

A new study from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about one-third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s tens of millions of people, and the number is likely higher when you factor in scams that go unreported.

As holiday shopping ramps up, it’s worth knowing what these scams look like, how to avoid them, and what to do if you fall for one.

What happened

Pew’s survey, conducted in October 2025, asked Americans about a range of online fraud experiences. The results showed that 33% of adults reported being the victim of an online shopping scam. The study also noted that certain groups were more vulnerable: younger adults, those with higher household incomes, and people who shop frequently on social media platforms reported higher rates of victimization.

The research didn’t drill into every type of scam, but it aligns with common patterns: fake online stores that take payment and disappear, phishing emails that mimic legitimate retailers, and fraudulent listings on marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are also frequently used in these scams, despite their own warnings that users should avoid using them to pay strangers because they lack purchase protection.

Why it matters

Online shopping isn’t going anywhere. The same Pew data shows that the majority of Americans still buy things online, and shopping via social media—especially TikTok and Instagram—is growing fast. But convenience often comes at a cost. Scammers rely on the fact that most people don’t stop to verify a site’s legitimacy before entering payment information.

The financial impact can range from a few lost dollars to full-blown identity theft. And because many scams originate overseas, recovering stolen money is difficult. Knowing the warning signs and taking a few extra steps before hitting “buy” is the best defense.

What readers can do

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. Most scams are avoidable with basic caution.

Stick to credit cards or secure payment services. Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection under federal law. Debit cards and bank transfers are riskier. Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App should only be used with friends or people you trust—they offer almost no recourse if you’re scammed.

Verify the seller. Before buying from an unfamiliar website, search for reviews on independent sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau. Be skeptical of stores with only glowing, generic reviews. Also check the website address: a legitimate store will usually have a standard .com or .org domain, not a strange variation like “amazon-shop-usa.net.”

Look for red flags. Prices that are 50–80% below market rate are almost always too good to be true. Poor grammar, blurry product photos, and urgent deadlines (“Only 3 left at this price!”) are also warning signs. If the site only accepts cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards, do not proceed.

Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi. Airports, coffee shops, and hotel networks are easy for scammers to intercept. If you must use public Wi-Fi, connect through a VPN before entering payment details.

Enable purchase alerts. Many banks and credit card companies allow you to set up real-time notifications for any transaction over a certain amount. That way you’ll know immediately if your card is used without your permission.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you realize a purchase was fraudulent, act quickly:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Most have 24/7 fraud hotlines. They can reverse the charge (a “chargeback”), block the card, and issue a new one.
  • Change passwords for the affected account and any other accounts that use the same password. Use a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords.
  • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This helps them track patterns and sometimes shut down scammers. You can also file a complaint with your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.
  • Monitor your credit reports for the next few months. You can get free weekly reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com.

No single step guarantees you’ll never be scammed, but taking these precautions reduces the odds dramatically. The evidence is clear: online shopping scams are widespread, but most are avoidable if you know what to look for.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center. “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them.” November 19, 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today.” July 31, 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users.” September 8, 2022.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”