One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself

If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re not alone. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough to suggest that most of us either know someone who’s been burned or have been burned ourselves.

The survey, conducted in late 2025, asked Americans about a range of online fraud experiences. The results paint a clear picture: online shopping scams are not rare edge cases. They’re a routine hazard, and they affect people across age groups and income levels, though younger adults and frequent shoppers are more likely to report them.

What Happened

Pew’s researchers asked a representative sample of U.S. adults whether they had ever personally experienced an online shopping scam—meaning a situation where someone tried to or succeeded in taking money by offering goods that were never delivered, misrepresented, or simply didn’t exist. Roughly one in three respondents said yes.

The scams took many forms, but the most common included fake websites that looked like legitimate stores, unsolicited discount offers via email or text, and social media advertisements leading to fraudulent checkout pages. Some respondents said they were tricked by listings on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, where scammers posed as ordinary sellers.

Why It Matters

A third of the adult population is a large enough fraction that online shopping fraud should be treated as a systemic problem, not an occasional annoyance. During holiday shopping seasons or big sales events like Black Friday, the risk spikes because consumers are more willing to click quickly and trust unfamiliar sites. Many victims lose amounts between $50 and a few hundred dollars, but for some, the losses are much larger. Beyond the direct financial hit, there’s also the hassle of disputed charges, compromised credit card numbers, and the time spent trying to recover money.

Because the scams often look professional—with realistic logos, polished product photos, and even fake customer reviews—even careful shoppers can be fooled. The Pew survey underscores that most people are not inattentive or naive; they are simply up against sophisticated deception.

What Readers Can Do

You cannot eliminate every risk when shopping online, but you can make yourself a much harder target. Here are concrete steps, based on consumer protection guidance from the Federal Trade Commission and security researchers.

Spot the red flags before you pay

  • Check the domain name. If the URL is a misspelling of a known store (for example, “amaz0n-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com”), that’s a common trick. Genuine sites don’t need odd variations.
  • Look for contact information. Legitimate businesses have a physical address and a working phone number or customer service email. If the only contact option is a web form, be suspicious.
  • Watch payment methods. Scammers often ask for wire transfers, prepaid gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Credit cards are the safest option because you can dispute charges. Do not send money through peer-to-peer apps like Venmo or Cash App for purchases from strangers—those services have limited fraud protection.
  • Search for reviews outside the site. A single glowing review on the store’s own page means nothing. Search the store name plus the word “scam” or “review” on Google. Check the Better Business Bureau or site like trustpilot, but be aware that fake reviews are common.

Verify the site before entering any information

  • Use a site-checking tool. Free services like Google Safe Browsing or the FTC’s scam-reporting tools can flag known fraudulent domains. Many browsers also warn you if a site is dangerous.
  • Look for HTTPS. The lock symbol in the address bar indicates encryption, but it is not a guarantee that the seller is honest. Many scam sites also use HTTPS, so rely on other checks too.
  • Trust your gut on prices. If a brand-new item is listed at 80% off and the deal expires “in 2 hours,” it is almost certainly a scam. Discount pressure tactics are a hallmark of fake stores.

If you think you’ve been scammed

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Explain that you made a purchase that was never delivered or was fraudulent. Many card issuers have a 60-day window to dispute charges.
  • Change passwords. If you reused the same password on the scam site and elsewhere, change it on any other accounts immediately.
  • Report the scam. The Federal Trade Commission accepts online fraud reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report can help warn others and may assist law enforcement.
  • Monitor your accounts. Keep an eye on bank and credit card statements for several weeks after the incident. Scammers sometimes sell your card number to others.

No single tip will protect you from every scam, but combining them makes you a far less appealing target. Treat every unfamiliar online store with the same caution you would a street vendor in a place you’ve never visited before.

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, “What to Do If You Were Scammed,” consumer.ftc.gov.
  • Google Safe Browsing Transparency Report.