How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit
If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a scam attempt. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s not a fringe problem; it’s a mainstream risk that touches millions of households.
The good news is that most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can avoid the vast majority of them without giving up the convenience of buying from your couch.
What Happened
Pew’s survey, conducted in late 2025, asked U.S. adults whether they had personally experienced an online shopping scam. Roughly 33% said yes. The survey didn’t define “scam” narrowly—it covered everything from fake websites that never ship goods to phishing emails pretending to be from a retailer. The finding puts online shopping scams among the most common types of fraud Americans encounter, on par with phishing attacks on email or social media.
The results also showed that younger adults reported scams at slightly higher rates, possibly because they shop online more frequently and across more platforms. But no age group was immune.
Why It Matters
Online shopping scams don’t just cost you the price of an item. They can expose your credit card number, home address, and other personal data. Once a scammer has that information, they can use it for identity theft or sell it on the dark web. A single bad click on a fake “order confirmation” email can lead to months of account monitoring and credit freezes.
The Pew data also highlights how common these scams have become. When one in three people has been hit, it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when” you’ll encounter one. The real question is whether you’ll recognize it before you lose money or data.
What Readers Can Do
Here are concrete steps you can take, based on patterns repeatedly documented by consumer protection agencies:
1. Watch for prices that are too good to be true. If a new smartphone costs 70% less than anywhere else, that’s a red flag. Scammers lure shoppers with deep discounts on popular items, then either send a counterfeit or nothing at all.
2. Check the website’s URL and design. Fake shopping sites often use slightly misspelled domain names (like “amzon-deals.shop” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for poor grammar, blurry product images, and missing contact information. If the site doesn’t have a physical address or phone number, proceed with caution.
3. Use a credit card or a trusted payment service. Credit cards offer chargeback protections that debit cards and peer-to-peer apps like Venmo or Cash App often don’t. Never wire money or pay with gift cards—scammers almost always ask for those because they’re nearly impossible to reverse.
4. Verify the seller before you buy. For marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace, check the seller’s history and reviews. Be skeptical of brand-new accounts with no feedback. If the seller pressures you to move the transaction off the platform, that’s a major warning sign.
5. Enable purchase alerts and monitor your accounts. Set up text or email alerts for any transaction over a small amount. Review your bank and credit card statements at least once a week. The sooner you spot an unauthorized charge, the better your chances of getting the money back.
6. Report scams when you see them. If you fall victim—or even if you almost do—report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report fake listings to the platform where you found them. The data collected helps authorities track scam operations and, in some cases, shut them down.
What If You Already Got Scammed?
First, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Tell them you suspect a scam and ask if they can reverse the charge. Next, freeze your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. Finally, change passwords on your email and any accounts that share the compromised password.
Staying Safe Without Overthinking Every Purchase
You don’t need to be paranoid to shop online safely. The most effective approach is simply to slow down. Scammers rely on urgency and emotion—limited-time deals, fake low-stock warnings, or sympathy stories. If a purchase feels rushed or off, take a minute to step back and verify.
The Pew statistic is a reminder that online scams are now part of everyday life. But with a few habits, you can stay ahead of them.
Sources: Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them” (November 2025).