Online Shopping Scams Are More Common Than You Think — How to Spot and Avoid Them

The numbers are sobering: about a third of Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam, according to a November 2025 Pew Research Center study. If you have not yet encountered one, the odds suggest you probably will – especially as holiday shopping moves online and fraudsters sharpen their tactics.

This article will walk through what the Pew data actually shows, why the problem matters for everyday shoppers, and which concrete steps can reduce your risk. No alarmism, just practical guidance.

What Happened

Pew Research Center surveyed U.S. adults in 2025 and found that 33% reported having had an online shopping scam happen to them. That is roughly one in three people. The study, published on November 19, 2025, did not claim that everyone lost money; some respondents may have recognized a scam before completing a purchase. But even attempted scams can expose personal information.

Common methods reported in the study include fake retail websites that mimic legitimate stores, phishing emails that appear to come from well‑known brands, and deceptive advertisements on social media platforms. Payment app fraud – where a seller pressures a buyer to use Venmo or Cash App instead of a credit card – is also frequent, as Pew noted in earlier research.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams are not a niche problem. They affect people across age groups, income levels, and technical skill. Older adults may be less familiar with certain scam signs, while younger shoppers are more likely to click on influencer‑sponsored links that turn out to be fraudulent.

The consequences go beyond a lost purchase. Scammers often harvest credit card numbers, addresses, and login credentials, which can later be used for identity theft. With the holidays approaching, impulse buying and deal‑hunting create a perfect environment for con artists.

Moreover, payment apps offer fewer protections than credit cards. Money sent via Venmo or Zelle to a stranger is rarely recoverable. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that consumers lost more than $1.8 billion to imposter scams in 2024, and online shopping fraud accounts for a large slice of that.

What Readers Can Do

You do not need to be a security expert to shop safely. The following steps are straightforward and effective.

Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards typically provide fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges. Debit cards and payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle) do not guarantee the same recourse. If a seller insists on an unusual payment method, consider it a red flag.

Research the seller before buying. If you find a product on social media or in a Google ad, take a few minutes to look up the business. Check for a physical address, customer service phone number, and reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau. Be skeptical of stores with few reviews or overwhelmingly positive ones that sound generic.

Inspect the website URL carefully. Scammers often create URLs that look similar to well‑known brands – for example, “amazonn-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com.” Hover over links before clicking to see the actual destination. Secure sites begin with “https://,” but that alone is not a guarantee of legitimacy.

Avoid deals that seem too good to be true. A luxury handbag priced at $50 or a brand‑new video game for $10 is almost certainly a scam. High discounts on limited‑time offers are a classic tactic to rush you into a decision.

Enable two‑factor authentication on accounts. This extra step – often a code sent by text or an authenticator app – makes it harder for scammers to access your account even if they steal your password.

If you think you have been scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the transaction. Place a fraud alert on your credit report if you shared sensitive information. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Change passwords for any accounts that might be compromised.

The Pew data reinforces a simple truth: online shopping scams are not rare, but they are often preventable. Cautious behavior, a little skepticism, and the right payment tools can keep your money and personal data safe.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, “About a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them,” November 19, 2025.
  • Pew Research Center, “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” July 31, 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.”