Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams – How to Protect Yourself
Online shopping has never been more convenient, but it also carries a risk that many people underestimate. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, about one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a striking number, and it underscores the need for consumers to recognize scams before they cost them money—or their personal information.
What Happened
Pew Research asked Americans about their encounters with online scams and found that roughly 33% had been on the receiving end of an online shopping fraud. These scams take many forms: fake websites that look just like a real store, listings for products that never arrive, or sellers who demand payment through peer-to-peer apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle and then disappear.
The survey also showed that younger adults and people who shop frequently on social media platforms are more likely to fall victim. Scammers often target Facebook Marketplace, Instagram ads, or TikTok shops—places where users may be less cautious than on established retail sites.
Why It Matters
Beyond the immediate financial loss, online shopping scams can lead to identity theft, compromised credit card numbers, and a lasting distrust of e-commerce. The 1 in 3 figure means this isn’t a rare edge case; it’s a common hazard. During peak shopping seasons—Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holidays—the risk spikes as new deals flood inboxes and social feeds.
Many people assume that if a website looks professional or a product appears in a sponsored post, it must be legitimate. That is no longer safe to assume. Scammers invest in making their fake stores look convincing, using copied logos, fake reviews, and polished checkout pages.
Perhaps more troubling is the rise of payment app fraud. Payment apps were designed for friends and family, not for paying strangers for goods. Most offer little to no purchase protection. Once you send money through these apps, getting it back is difficult.
What You Can Do
You don’t need to stop shopping online, but you should build a few habits that make you a harder target. Here are concrete steps based on what security experts and consumer protection agencies recommend.
Check the seller and website carefully. Before buying from an unfamiliar site, look for contact information, a physical address, and a privacy policy. Search the store name plus the word “scam.” If you find complaints or warnings, trust them. Also check the URL—many fakes use slight misspellings or uncommon domain endings (.shop, .club, .xyz).
Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law. If you don’t receive an item or the charge is unauthorized, you can dispute it. Debit cards have fewer protections, and payment apps typically treat authorized payments as final.
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. A 70% discount on a popular gadget from a site you’ve never heard of is almost always a scam. Compare prices across reputable retailers. If the only place offering a low price is a random website or a social media post, keep scrolling.
Look for trust signals—and verify them. A padlock icon in the address bar means the connection is encrypted, but it doesn’t mean the store is honest. Real customer reviews can be helpful, but read the negative ones. Many fake sites post only glowing five-star reviews that read like generic praise.
Avoid clicking ads on social media for direct purchases. Instead, go to the official website of the brand or retailer. Scam ads often lead to clone sites that steal your payment info.
If You Are Scammed
Even careful shoppers can get caught. If you believe you’ve been scammed, act quickly:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the fraudulent charge and request a chargeback. Time matters.
- Change your passwords for the account you used and any other account using the same login.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. That helps authorities track patterns and may lead to action.
- If you paid via a peer-to-peer app, contact the app’s support. Success is rare, but they may flag the scammer’s account.
Recovery is not guaranteed, but reporting increases the chance that others will be warned.
The Bottom Line
Online shopping scams have become routine enough that a third of American adults have encountered them. That statistic should be a wake-up call, not a reason to panic. A few simple precautions—sticking to known sellers, using a credit card, and thinking twice before clicking an ad—will eliminate most of the risk. In the end, your safest habit is a healthy dose of skepticism. If something feels off, 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, “How to Avoid an Online Shopping Scam” (updated 2025)