One in Three Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

If you shop online, you’ve probably wondered how many people actually fall for those too-good-to-be-true deals or fake storefronts. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of American adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults—a number that should give any regular online buyer pause.

These scams aren’t rare or isolated. The same Pew report found that younger adults and people who shop via social media are especially likely to encounter fraudulent offers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that online shopping scams ranked as the third most common type of fraud in 2024, trailing only impersonation scams and phishing attacks.

What Happened? The Data Behind the Headline

Pew’s survey, conducted in November 2025, asked U.S. adults whether they had ever had an online shopping scam happen to them—meaning they paid for something online that either never arrived, was counterfeit, or was not what was advertised. The result: roughly one in three said yes.

This finding aligns with a broader trend. In a separate July 2025 Pew report on online scams and attacks, researchers noted that online shopping fraud remains one of the most widespread digital threats Americans face. The November 2025 data specifically underscored that social media platforms and payment apps are frequent vectors for scams. For instance, shoppers who use peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Cash App without purchase protection are at higher risk, as these services don’t always offer the same buyer safeguards as credit cards.

Why It Matters: The Real-World Impact

An online shopping scam doesn’t just cost you money—it can expose your personal information. Even if you recover the funds, scammers may have captured your email, address, phone number, or credit card details. They can then sell that data or use it for identity theft.

The Pew data also hints at a wider problem: many victims don’t report the scam or don’t know how to respond. That hesitation can compound the damage. When you factor in the fact that one in five Americans have used cryptocurrency (a payment method with virtually no recourse once sent), the scope of risk becomes clear. Scammers are tailoring their tactics to the way people actually shop and pay.

What Readers Can Do: Practical Prevention Steps

You can’t make all online shopping risk vanish, but you can reduce your odds of becoming part of that one-in-three statistic. Here’s what works:

1. Verify the seller and the URL.
Before entering payment information, double-check the website address. Scammers often register addresses that differ from the legitimate one by a single character (e.g., “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for trust signals like a padlock icon in the address bar—but know that even scammers can get SSL certificates. If the site looks amateurish, has no contact information, or uses stock product photos, be suspicious.

2. Use a credit card for purchases.
Credit cards offer strong fraud protection under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). If you dispute a charge for goods or services you didn’t receive, the card issuer is generally required to investigate and may reverse the charge. Debit cards, bank transfers, and payment apps like Zelle or Cash App lack that protection. For high-value purchases, a credit card is the safer bet.

3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your shopping accounts.
Many major retailers and payment services allow you to add 2FA. This extra step—usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app—makes it harder for a scammer to access your account even if they steal your password.

4. Be wary of social media ads and “flash sales.”
Scammers buy cheap ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms to promote fake stores. The deal may look legitimate, but the goal is to collect your payment and disappear. Stick to buying directly from the brand’s website or from established marketplaces with buyer protections (like Amazon or eBay). If you must buy through a social media link, research the seller separately.

5. Keep your devices and browsers updated.
Outdated software can contain vulnerabilities that scammers exploit. Enable automatic updates for your browser, operating system, and any shopping apps you use.

6. Watch for phishing emails pretending to be order confirmations.
After you place an order, you might receive a fake email that looks like it’s from the store asking you to “confirm your payment” or “update shipping details.” These emails often link to lookalike websites designed to steal your login credentials. Always open a new browser tab and go to the retailer’s website directly rather than clicking links in emails.

What to Do If You Are Scammed

If you suspect you’ve paid for something that isn’t coming, or if you receive goods that are clearly not what you ordered, act quickly:

  1. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the fraudulent charge and ask for a reversal. The sooner you call, the better your chances of recovery.
  2. Change your passwords for the affected store account and any other accounts that share the same password.
  3. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The agency uses these reports to identify patterns and pursue scammers. You can also report fake ads to the platform where you saw them.
  4. File a complaint with the site or payment service you used. Some platforms have dispute resolution processes.

Stay Vigilant, Not Scared

The Pew data is a reminder that online shopping scams are common but not inevitable. By checking URLs, using credit cards, and ignoring unsolicited deals that feel too good, you can protect yourself. Bookmark the FTC’s consumer education page (consumer.ftc.gov) and your bank’s fraud contact number for quick access.

The bottom line: one in three Americans has been taken. You don’t have to be the next.

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.”