One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online—Here’s How to Stay Safe
If you shop online, you’ve probably seen the warnings: deals that seem too good to be true, unfamiliar websites with misspelled logos, ads on social media for products that never arrive. But it’s easy to assume it won’t happen to you. The data suggests otherwise.
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large enough share to make this a concern for nearly every household, especially as the holiday shopping season ramps up.
The Scale of the Problem
Pew’s findings, published in November 2025, are part of a broader study on online scams and digital security in the United States. The number – roughly 33% of adults – covers a range of incidents: people who paid for items that were never delivered, who received counterfeit goods, or who had their payment information stolen after entering it on a fraudulent site.
The report also notes that online shopping scams are just one category in a wider landscape of digital fraud. Others include phishing emails, romance scams, and tech support scams. But shopping scams stand out because they target a routine activity that most people do weekly, if not daily.
Why This Matters Right Now
With holiday sales and seasonal promotions flooding inboxes and social media feeds, the risk spikes. Scammers know that people are looking for bargains and are more likely to click quickly. Fake websites often imitate well-known retailers, and social media ads can look legitimate at first glance.
The financial impact can range from minor – losing $20 on a cheap gadget – to serious, such as having a credit card drained or falling for a fake “package tracking” link that installs malware. Beyond the money, recovering from identity theft takes time and stress.
Common Scam Tactics to Watch For
While scammers adapt constantly, a few patterns show up again and again. Knowing these can help you pause before clicking “buy.”
- Fake websites. These can be very convincing. The URL might be a slight misspelling of a real store (e.g., “amaz0n- deals.com”). Poor grammar, missing contact pages, and no customer service phone number are red flags.
- Phishing emails and texts. You receive a message saying there’s a problem with your order, or a limited-time offer, with a link that leads to a fake login page. The email address may look legitimate but contain subtle errors.
- Social media ads. Scammers create ads on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok for products that don’t exist. The comment sections are often disabled or filled with fake positive reviews.
- Unusual payment requests. A seller who insists on payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency is a strong warning sign. These methods are nearly impossible to reverse.
How to Protect Yourself
You don’t need to stop shopping online, but a few habits can reduce your risk.
Verify the seller. If you’re considering a site you’ve never heard of, do a quick search for “site name scam” or check reviews on a site like the Better Business Bureau. You can also use a domain age tool to see if the website was registered recently – scam sites often last only a few months.
Look for SSL encryption. The URL should start with “https://” and show a padlock icon. This doesn’t guarantee the site is legitimate, but its absence is a major red flag.
Use safe payment methods. Credit cards and services like PayPal offer buyer protection that can help you get your money back if something goes wrong. Debit cards, bank transfers, and payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle) generally do not. Do not pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency under any circumstance – these are almost always scams.
Stick to reputable retailers. When buying from an individual seller on a marketplace like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, check their history and reviews. If the price is drastically lower than other listings, ask questions before committing.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you do fall victim, act quickly.
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. They may be able to stop the transaction or reverse the charge.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track trends and may assist in investigations.
- Change any passwords you used on the site. If you used the same password elsewhere, change those too. Consider enabling two-factor authentication.
- If you paid via a service like PayPal, open a dispute through their resolution center. Keep all communications and receipts.
Scams happen even to careful people. The goal is not perfection but to make yourself a harder target.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 2025.
- Federal Trade Commission, “ReportFraud.ftc.gov,” accessed June 2026.