Nearly One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever clicked “Buy Now” on a site that looked legitimate, only to receive nothing but a confirmation email and silence, you’re far from alone. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a staggering number, and it’s worth paying attention to – not because you should stop shopping online, but because a few simple habits can dramatically cut your risk.

What happened

Pew’s November 2025 survey asked a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults about various types of online fraud. The findings show that about 33% of respondents reported that an online shopping scam had happened to them. The study also looked at other scams, including phishing emails and fake tech support calls, but the shopping category stands out for its sheer frequency. The data was published as part of a broader report on online scams and attacks in America, and it reinforces what consumer protection agencies have been warning about for years: the convenience of e‑commerce comes with real risks.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just annoying – they can cost real money. The most common versions include fake storefronts that look like well‑known retailers, phishing emails that appear to be order confirmations from Amazon or Walmart, and fraudulent listings on social media marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram. Payment app scams (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle) have also become more common, partly because those platforms offer far less buyer protection than credit cards. When you pay through a peer‑to‑peer app, the money is often gone for good once it’s sent.

The Pew data also highlights that younger adults and those who shop via social media are disproportionately affected. If you’re buying from an influencer’s link or a TikTok shop ad, you’re stepping into a space where scam listings can be hard to distinguish from real ones. The takeaway: the problem is widespread, but most of it is preventable with a little caution.

What readers can do

Here are practical steps you can take right now, starting with your next purchase.

Know the red flags. Scam sites often have unusual domain names – think “amaz0n-deals.shop” instead of amazon.com. They may push you to pay outside the platform (e.g., “send money via Venmo to save fees”). Poor grammar, missing return policies, and stock photos that look too polished are also warning signs. If the price is drastically lower than everywhere else, it’s almost certainly a trap.

Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer chargeback rights and fraud liability protections under U.S. law. Debit cards have far weaker protections, and peer‑to‑peer apps treat payments like cash. If a seller insists on an app like Zelle or Cash App, walk away.

Check the seller from multiple angles. Don’t rely only on the seller’s own website or a single review. Search the company name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Look up Better Business Bureau ratings, but also check site reputability tools like whois.com to see when the domain was registered. A site that’s only a few months old is riskier.

Enable two‑factor authentication (2FA) on shopping accounts and your email. This won’t stop a fake storefront, but it will protect you if a scammer gets your password from a data breach. Use a password manager so you don’t reuse passwords across sites.

If you do get scammed, act fast. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the transaction. Change the password for any account you used, and enable 2FA if you haven’t already. Then file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov). Even if you don’t get your money back, reporting helps authorities track patterns and shut down scammers.

Staying safe without stopping shopping

None of this means you should avoid online shopping altogether. Most transactions are perfectly safe, especially on major platforms like Amazon, eBay, or well‑known brand sites. The risk spikes when you venture to unknown sellers, social media ads, or marketplace negotiations that pressure you to pay off‑platform. A little skepticism goes a long way. Keep your payment methods protected, verify before you buy, and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 2025.
  • Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Online Shopping Scams,” ftc.gov.
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, ic3.gov.