Online Shopping Scams Affect 1 in 3 Americans: Here’s How to Stay Safe

If you’re shopping online this season, you’re not alone in worrying about scams. New survey data from Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t just a fringe problem — it’s part of the everyday experience for millions of people.

The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns. Knowing what they look like and taking a few extra minutes before clicking “buy” can save you money, stress, and time.

What Happened

Pew’s survey asked about a range of online scams, including those that happen during shopping. Their latest report, part of a broader study on online scams and attacks in America, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2025, and the results were released in November.

The most common types of shopping scams reported include:

  • Fake websites designed to look like legitimate stores, often selling popular items at deep discounts.
  • Phishing emails and texts pretending to be from retailers, asking you to click a link to confirm a purchase or update payment info.
  • Social media ads from unknown sellers, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where products are promoted by influencers or through paid posts.
  • Payment app fraud, where sellers request money through Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle and then disappear.

Pew’s earlier research (2022) found that many users already had security concerns about payment apps. Those concerns appear justified: the new data shows scammers are exploiting app features, especially when used outside trusted buyer-seller protections.

Why It Matters

Scams aren’t just frustrating — they can lead to real financial loss. The typical online shopping scam might cost a few hundred dollars, but some victims lose much more. And during holiday shopping seasons, when people are rushed and looking for deals, the risk tends to spike.

What’s more, the rise of social commerce means shoppers are encountering sellers they’ve never heard of, with little recourse if something goes wrong. A separate Pew study from 2024 found that a majority of U.S. TikTok users are on the platform for product reviews and recommendations. That trust can be exploited by fake sellers who set up storefronts on social media, collect payments, and never ship anything.

What Readers Can Do

While no single step can guarantee safety, combining a few habits dramatically reduces your risk. Here’s a practical checklist:

1. Check the website before you buy.
Look for red flags like misspelled domain names, poor grammar, or a lack of contact information. Use a Whois lookup to see how long the domain has been registered — newly created sites selling expensive goods are suspect. Also search for the store name plus the word “scam” to see if others have reported issues.

2. Stick to secure payment methods.
Credit cards offer the best fraud protection. If the seller offers only payment apps like Venmo or Cash App, be cautious. Those services are designed for friends and family, not purchases from strangers. If you must use a payment app for a transaction, use PayPal Goods and Services, which includes buyer protection. Never wire money or pay with gift cards.

3. Look for HTTPS and reviews, but don’t stop there.
HTTPS alone doesn’t mean a site is legitimate — scammers buy SSL certificates too. Read reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau, but watch for fake five-star reviews that all sound similar.

4. Use a dedicated email for shopping.
Create a separate email address for online purchases. That way, if you get a phishing email claiming to be from a store you don’t recall buying from, you’ll know it’s fake. It also keeps promotional spam from clogging your main inbox.

5. If you’re scammed, act quickly.
Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. If you paid via a app, report the transaction through the app’s support team. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Change any passwords you may have used, especially if you reused them elsewhere. Consider freezing your credit if your personal information was involved.

6. Enable purchase alerts on your credit cards.
Most card issuers offer text or email alerts for transactions over a certain amount. This can help you spot unauthorized charges quickly.

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.
  • Pew Research Center, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users,” September 2022.
  • Pew Research Center, “A majority of U.S. TikTok users are there for product reviews and recommendations,” November 2024.