One in Three Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Avoid It

Intro

If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a decent chance you or someone you know has already been caught by a scam. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure comes from a survey conducted in late 2025 and is part of a broader look at how Americans navigate digital fraud. The numbers are worth paying attention to, not because they’re alarming for the sake of it, but because they point to patterns that are largely preventable once you know what to look for.

What happened

Pew’s November 2025 report, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” found that 33% of U.S. adults say they have fallen victim to an online shopping scam specifically. This is separate from other common scams like phishing emails or social media account takeovers, though the overlap is significant. The survey also noted that certain groups are more vulnerable: younger adults, those with lower incomes, and people with less formal education reported higher rates of victimization.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) separately reported that in 2024 consumers lost more than $8.8 billion to fraud, with online shopping scams accounting for a large share of complaints. The most common tactics include fake websites that mimic legitimate stores, social media ads offering deals that never arrive, and payment methods that leave buyers with no recourse once the money is gone.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams don’t just cost money—they can also lead to identity theft, compromised credit card information, and a lot of wasted time trying to get refunds or report fraud. For many people, losing even a small amount feels like a violation of trust in the everyday convenience that e-commerce should provide.

The Pew data underscores how widespread the problem has become. It’s not a niche issue affecting only the technologically inexperienced. A third of Americans means tens of millions of adults, across age groups and backgrounds, have been bitten at least once. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and those patterns are avoidable.

What readers can do

Here are actionable steps to reduce your risk, based on advice from the FTC and cybersecurity experts:

  1. Stick to known retailers when possible. If you find a deal on a site you’ve never heard of, search for the company name plus “scam” or “complaint” before entering any payment details. Look for contact information, a physical address, and return policy.

  2. Check the URL carefully. Scammers often register addresses that are one or two letters off from a real brand’s domain. A missing “s” in the HTTPS indicator isn’t a guarantee of safety, but its absence is a red flag. Use a browser extension that flags suspicious sites if you’re unsure.

  3. Use a credit card for online purchases rather than a debit card or payment app. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection under federal law, and you’re more likely to get your money back if something goes wrong. Avoid wiring money or using gift cards as payment—scammers demand those because they’re nearly impossible to trace.

  4. Beware of “too good to be true” social media ads. Many scams originate on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. The product photos look polished, the price is deeply discounted, but the item either never ships or is a cheap counterfeit. Read reviews from multiple sources before buying.

  5. Enable two-factor authentication on your shopping accounts and email. This adds a layer of protection if someone does get hold of your password. Also, use a unique password for each major site—password managers make this easier.

  6. If you do get scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the scam involved your Social Security number or bank account details, consider freezing your credit with the three major bureaus.

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. “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.” Published February 2025.

Note: The Pew data referenced in this article was collected in 2025 and published in November 2025. As with all survey data, margins of error apply. The findings are based on self-reported experiences, which may undercount actual incidents due to recall or embarrassment.