One in Three Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever clicked on a deal that seemed too good to be true, only to end up with nothing but an empty bank account, you’re not alone. A recent study from Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of online shoppers who have been deceived, lost money, or had their personal information stolen while trying to buy something online. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, understanding how these scams work and how to protect yourself is more important than ever.

What Happened

Pew’s survey, conducted in 2025, asked Americans about various types of online fraud. The findings show that online shopping scams are especially common. About one in three respondents reported that a shopping scam had happened to them. The research also noted that these scams take many forms, but the most frequent tactics include phishing emails that look like they come from legitimate retailers, fake websites that mimic real storefronts, and sellers who take payment but never deliver the goods.

The Pew data aligns with what consumer protection agencies have been seeing for years. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regularly warns about rising reports of online shopping fraud, especially during peak buying periods.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just a minor inconvenience. They can cause direct financial loss and open the door to identity theft. Victims often lose not only the cost of the item they thought they were buying but may also face unauthorized charges, stolen credit card numbers, or compromised login credentials. For many people, recovering lost money is difficult, particularly if they used payment methods that offer little buyer protection.

The prevalence of these scams also erodes trust in online retail. When a third of shoppers have been burned, it discourages people from buying from smaller or unfamiliar websites, which hurts honest businesses. Understanding the risks helps consumers make smarter decisions and protects the broader e-commerce ecosystem.

What Readers Can Do

Fortunately, most online shopping scams are preventable. Here are concrete steps you can take to reduce your risk.

1. Recognize the Most Common Scam Tactics

  • Phishing emails and texts: Scammers impersonate major retailers (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) and send messages with links to fake login pages or payment portals. Always type the store’s web address directly into your browser instead of clicking links in emails.
  • Fake websites: Some sites use URLs that are one letter off from a real store. Look for secure connections (https://) and check for misspellings, stolen logos, and poor design.
  • Non-delivery scams: A seller on a marketplace or social media takes your money but never ships the item. This is common on platforms with minimal buyer protection.

2. Watch for Red Flags

  • Prices that are far below normal: If a brand-new video game console is listed for $100, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  • Pressure to act quickly: “Limited stock” or “offer expires in one hour” is a classic tactic to push you into a bad decision.
  • Unusual payment methods: Requests to pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards are huge warning signs. Legitimate sellers accept credit cards or platforms like PayPal that offer dispute resolution.

3. Use Safer Payment Methods

  • Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge and often get your money back while the card issuer investigates.
  • Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle are convenient but offer little to no buyer protection when sending money to strangers. Use them only with people you know and trust. If you must pay a seller through an app, consider using the “goods and services” option if available (PayPal has this feature).
  • Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) add an extra layer of security because they don’t share your actual card number.

4. Research the Seller

Before buying from an unfamiliar site, do a quick check. Search the store’s name plus “scam” or “review.” Look for feedback on sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or Reddit. Be skeptical of stores that have no online presence beyond their own website.

5. What to Do If You Are Scammed

Act quickly:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the unauthorized transaction. They may be able to reverse it or block further charges.
  • File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps them track patterns and may assist in shutting down scam operations.
  • Notify the platform where you found the seller (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.) so they can remove the account.
  • Change passwords for any accounts you may have compromised, and enable two-factor authentication where possible.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 19, 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book,” 2025.
  • Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 2025.