Online Shopping Scams Hit 1 in 3 Americans: How to Protect Yourself
If you shop online, you’ve probably run into a deal that seemed too good to be true. Often, it was. A new report from the Pew Research Center finds that roughly one in three Americans (33%) say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure comes from a survey conducted in early 2025, and it underscores just how common fraud has become in the everyday world of clicks and carts.
As the holiday season approaches and online sales spike, knowing how to spot—and avoid—these scams is more important than ever. Below, we’ll walk through what the Pew data says, why it matters, and the concrete steps you can take to keep your money and personal information safe.
What Happened
Pew’s research, released in November 2025, asked Americans whether they had ever been the victim of an online shopping scam. One-third said yes. The most common tactics reported include:
- Fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers but never deliver the goods.
- Phishing emails and texts that appear to come from well-known companies, tricking people into entering login or payment details.
- Non-delivery scams, where an item is paid for but never shipped.
Younger adults (ages 18–29) were more likely to say they’d been scammed, likely because they shop online more frequently. The data aligns with earlier Pew work on payment apps: services like Venmo and Cash App are convenient, but they often lack the buyer protections that credit cards offer, making them a common vector for fraud.
Why It Matters
Beyond the immediate financial loss—which can range from a few dollars to several hundred—online shopping scams erode trust in e-commerce. They also expose victims to identity theft when scammers collect names, addresses, and credit card numbers. With digital retail continuing to grow, the problem isn’t going away. The Pew numbers remind us that fraud isn’t rare; it’s a familiar reality for millions of shoppers.
What You Can Do
The good news is that most online shopping scams follow predictable patterns. Recognize them, and you can dodge most of the trouble. Here’s a practical checklist:
Before You Click “Buy”
- Verify the seller. Search for the store name plus “scam” or “review.” Look at multiple sources, not just the store’s own site. Check the Better Business Bureau if it’s a U.S.-based business.
- Examine the URL carefully. Scammers often swap a letter or add a misspelling (e.g., “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Legitimate sites use “https://” in the address bar.
- Be skeptical of prices that are dramatically lower than anywhere else. If a new game console is 70% off at an unknown site, it’s likely a trap.
- Avoid paying with wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. These methods are nearly impossible to reverse. Credit cards and services like PayPal offer stronger dispute protections.
While You’re Shopping
- Use a credit card instead of a debit card or direct bank transfer. Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50, and many cards offer zero-liability policies.
- Don’t shop on public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Unsecured networks can let attackers intercept your payment information.
- Keep your browser and device updated. Outdated software can have security holes that scammers exploit.
If You’ve Been Scammed
Act quickly:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge and freeze the card if needed.
- Change your passwords for any accounts you used during the purchase.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general’s office.
- File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker to help warn others.
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, “Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns,” September 2022.
- Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams,” ftc.gov.