How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams (1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit)
A new survey from the Pew Research Center has put a number on something many shoppers have suspected: online shopping scams are distressingly common. According to the study, about a third of American adults say they have personally had an online shopping scam happen to them. That translates into tens of millions of people who have paid for goods that never arrived, clicked on fraudulent links, or handed over payment information to fake sellers.
The data serves as a reminder that the convenience of buying from a phone or laptop comes with real risk. But awareness—and a few simple habits—can go a long way.
What the Pew study found
The findings come from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults conducted in late 2025. Roughly 32 percent of respondents said they had experienced an online shopping scam. The study also looked at broader trends in digital fraud: a separate Pew report from mid-2025 found that online scams and cyberattacks are a widespread concern, with payment app users expressing particular unease about security.
The research did not break down exact dollar losses, but it adds to a growing body of evidence that these scams affect people across age groups, income levels, and geographic regions. Younger adults who rely on social media for product recommendations appear especially vulnerable, given the difficulty of vetting sellers on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
Why it matters for everyday shoppers
A one-in-three chance of encountering a scam is not a remote risk. It means that in any group of friends or family, the odds are good someone has been burned. The immediate damage is financial—lost money for an item that never ships, or unauthorized charges on a card. But there are longer-term consequences: compromised personal information can lead to identity theft, and the erosion of trust makes consumers hesitant to try new online stores.
Scammers have become more sophisticated. They create realistic-looking websites, use fake reviews, and exploit social media marketplaces. The line between a legitimate deal and a trap can be thin.
How to protect yourself
You don’t need to stop shopping online to stay safe. A few practical steps can significantly reduce your exposure.
Look for red flags before you buy. The most common sign is a price that seems too good to be true. Scammers lure shoppers with steep discounts on popular items—think luxury goods for a fraction of retail, or electronics priced at half the normal cost. If the offer makes you pause, pause longer. Also watch for urgency: “Limited stock – buy now!” or “Only 2 left” pressure tactics are designed to bypass your skepticism.
Check the seller and the site. Before entering payment information, verify the website’s address. Slight misspellings (like “amaz0n.com” or an extra character) are a giveaway. Look for a secure connection (the padlock icon and “https” in the URL). Search the store name plus “scam” or “review” to see if others have reported problems. If you’re buying from a social media ad or a marketplace, check the seller’s history and ratings. Accounts with no prior activity or generic photos are suspicious.
Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law. If a purchase goes wrong, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. Debit cards and payment apps like Venmo or Cash App often have weaker protections and may not cover scam losses. Never wire money or use gift cards as payment—those are almost untraceable and favored by fraudsters.
Enable purchase alerts. Most banks and credit card companies allow you to set up real-time notifications for transactions. A quick alert can help you spot unauthorized charges early, and reporting them quickly limits your liability.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim, act fast.
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraudulent and ask about chargeback options. The sooner you act, the more likely you are to recover funds.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC aggregates complaints and uses them to identify and take action against fraudsters. Your report helps warn others.
- Change your passwords for any accounts you used during the interaction, especially if you shared login credentials or the site was compromised.
- Consider freezing your credit if you provided sensitive information like your Social Security number. A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your permission. You can do it for free through all three major credit bureaus.
- Monitor your accounts for unusual activity in the weeks and months after the incident.
The bottom line
The Pew data confirms what many have suspected: online shopping scams are not rare events. They are a routine hazard of modern commerce. The good news is that most scams rely on the same few tactics. Once you know what to look for, you can spot them before money changes hands. A cautious pause, a quick search, and the right payment method can make the difference between a bargain and a loss.
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).