Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Protect Yourself

If you shop online, you’re not alone in worrying about scams – and a new study suggests the worry is warranted. According to a Pew Research Center survey published in November 2025, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That number jumps during peak shopping seasons, and with the holidays approaching, it’s worth understanding what’s happening and how to avoid becoming part of that statistic.

This article walks through what the data shows, why it matters for everyday shoppers, and – most importantly – specific steps you can take right now to protect your money and personal information.

What the Data Says

The Pew survey, conducted among U.S. adults who use the internet, found that about 32% of respondents reported falling victim to some form of online shopping fraud. This includes everything from paying for goods that never arrive to entering payment details on fake websites designed to steal credit card numbers.

The report, published November 19, 2025, does not break down every type of scam, but other research from Pew and organizations like the Tech Transparency Project indicates that the most common methods include:

  • Fake retail websites that mimic legitimate stores.
  • Phishing emails and text messages that appear to be from known retailers.
  • Fraudulent ads on social media, often using deepfake videos of celebrities or influencers.
  • Counterfeit goods sold through third-party marketplaces.

The findings align with a broader trend: online scams have become more sophisticated and harder to spot. A separate July 2025 Pew report on online scams in America noted that many consumers struggle to distinguish real offers from fakes.

Why It Matters Now

The timing of this data is important. Holiday shopping – both in stores and online – is the period when scams peak. Scammers know that people are looking for deals, rushed for time, and more likely to click on a link or enter payment details without double-checking.

Beyond the immediate financial hit – which can range from a few dollars to thousands – victims often face identity theft or unauthorized charges that take weeks to resolve. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the median loss from online shopping scams in 2024 was about $150 per person, but some cases involved much larger amounts.

What makes this especially concerning is that many victims do not report the scam, either because they feel embarrassed or because they don’t know where to file a complaint. That means the actual number of affected Americans could be higher than one in three.

What You Can Do: Practical Prevention Tips

You don’t need to be a tech expert to protect yourself. The following steps are straightforward and can dramatically reduce your risk.

1. Vet the seller before you buy. If you’re shopping on a site you haven’t used before, search for the business name plus “scam” or “review.” Look for independent reviews from sources like the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot. Be wary of sites that have no reviews or only glowing five-star ratings.

2. Check the URL carefully. Scammers often register domain names that look like the real thing but use a slight misspelling or a different top-level domain (like .net instead of .com). Hover over any link in an email or ad before clicking. If the URL doesn’t match the official retailer, don’t proceed.

3. Use a credit card, not a debit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law. If a scammer gets your card number, you can dispute the charge and usually get your money back. Debit cards don’t have the same level of protection, and money taken from your checking account can be harder to recover.

4. Enable purchase alerts on your accounts. Most banks and card issuers let you set up text or email alerts for transactions over a certain amount. This helps you catch unauthorized activity quickly.

5. Avoid public Wi-Fi for shopping. Free networks in coffee shops, airports, or hotels are not secure. If you must shop on a mobile device, use your cellular data or a trusted VPN. A scammer on the same network could intercept your payment information.

6. Be skeptical of “too good to be true” deals. Extreme discounts, especially on popular items, are a common lure. If the price is far below what you’d expect from a reputable store, assume it’s a scam until proven otherwise.

What to Do If You Get Scammed

Even with precautions, mistakes happen. If you realize you’ve been scammed, act quickly.

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the fraud and ask them to reverse the charge. Most banks have a 60-day window for disputes.
  • Freeze your credit if you shared personal information like your Social Security number. You can do this online with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for free.
  • Change your passwords for any accounts you used on the scam site. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
  • Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps track patterns and may lead to enforcement actions.
  • Alert the platform where you saw the scam ad (Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc.). While not always effective, it can help get fraudulent content taken down.

Staying Vigilant

No single tactic will protect you from every scam, but combining these habits will make you a much harder target. The Pew data reminds us that online shopping scams are not rare events – they affect millions of people every year. That doesn’t mean you should stop shopping online, but it does mean you should shop with your guard up.

For more details, you can read the full Pew report here (dated November 19, 2025). The Federal Trade Commission also publishes regular alerts on current scams at consumer.ftc.gov.

Stay safe, and if something feels off, trust your gut. It’s better to miss a deal than to lose your money.