One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Avoid It

If you’ve ever clicked “buy” on a deal that seemed too good to be true—and later realized it was—you’re not alone. According to new research from the Pew Research Center, roughly a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure comes from a November 2025 survey and underscores how common these schemes have become.

The problem cuts across age groups, but younger shoppers—especially millennials and Gen Z—report being targeted at higher rates. With the holiday season approaching and more people turning to phones and social media for purchases, the risk isn’t going away. Here’s what the data shows and, more importantly, how you can protect yourself.

What Happened

The Pew survey, published in November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. This is part of a broader study on digital fraud that Pew conducted over the summer of 2025. The same research noted that younger adults (those under 30) are more likely to encounter scams, in part because they shop online more frequently and often use payment apps or social media platforms where scams proliferate.

Other Pew reports reinforce the trend. A separate study from July 2025 found that online scams and attacks are now a nearly universal concern, with most Americans saying they’ve experienced some form of digital fraud. And a 2022 report on payment apps like Venmo and Cash App highlighted that while convenient, these platforms often lack the same purchase protections as credit cards—making them a favorite tool for scammers.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just a nuisance. They can lead to direct financial loss, stolen personal information, and even identity theft. The typical scam might involve a fake website that looks like a legitimate retailer, a social media ad for a product that never arrives, or a payment app request for a “hold” fee that vanishes without a trace.

Because younger shoppers are more likely to use social media for product discovery (Pew found in 2024 that a majority of TikTok users turn to the platform for reviews and recommendations), they’re also more exposed to scam content. And with the rise of AI‑generated fake listings and deepfake product images, even savvy buyers can be fooled.

The real takeaway: this is not a rare problem. If you shop online, you will almost certainly encounter a scam attempt. Knowing what to look for can save you time, money, and frustration.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to shop safely. Here are practical steps that reduce your risk:

1. Stick to reputable sites and sellers
If you’re on a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, check the seller’s history and reviews. Be wary of sellers with few ratings or generic store names. For brick‑and‑mortar brands, go directly to their official website rather than clicking an ad or link.

2. Use a credit card, not a debit card or payment app
Credit cards offer better fraud protection under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). If a scam happens, you can dispute the charge. Debit cards and payment apps like Venmo or Zelle have much weaker protections—once the money is sent, it’s often gone.

3. Look for red flags in prices and urgency
A 70% discount on a popular item is usually a sign of a fake. Scammers also create urgency (“Only 2 left!”) to rush you into a decision. Slow down. Compare prices across sites. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

4. Verify payment requests
Never send money via a payment app as a “deposit” or “holding fee” to a seller you don’t know. Legitimate businesses don’t ask for Zelle payments for merchandise. And never pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency—those are nearly impossible to trace.

5. Check the URL and site security
Look for “https” and a padlock icon in the address bar. But be aware that scammers can also get SSL certificates. More important: inspect the domain name. A site like “nike-outlet-store.com” is likely a fake. Spelling errors or odd domain endings (.xyz, .shop) are often giveaways.

6. Read reviews—but critically
Fake reviews are common. Check for repetitive language, overly positive tone, or a cluster of reviews posted on the same day. Use tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta to analyze review authenticity.

7. Keep records
Save order confirmations, screenshots of the listing, and any communication with the seller. If you need to file a dispute with your bank or report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you’ll have proof.

If You Do Get Scammed

Act quickly:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. They can help reverse the charge or block the card.
  • Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps track patterns and may lead to enforcement.
  • File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or the site where you found the scammer.
  • Change passwords if you shared account details, and monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity.

The odds are that you or someone you know will encounter an online shopping scam. But with a few cautious habits, you can avoid becoming part of that one‑in‑three statistic.

Sources:
Pew Research Center (November 2025) – “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them”
Pew Research Center (July 2025) – “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today”
Pew Research Center (September 2022) – “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns”
Federal Trade Commission – ReportFraud.ftc.gov