Online shopping scams hit a third of Americans – here’s what to watch for

A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults (33%) say they have experienced an online shopping scam. The data, released in November 2025, underscores how widespread these schemes have become. Whether you’re a seasoned online buyer or someone who only shops occasionally, the risk is real—and it’s worth knowing what to look for.

This article breaks down the most common types of online shopping scams, the red flags to watch for, and what you can do to protect your money and personal information.

What happened

Pew’s survey asked a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults whether they had ever been the victim of an online shopping scam. One in three said yes. The numbers were even higher among younger adults (ages 18–29), who often encounter scams through social media platforms, according to the report.

The scams themselves come in several forms. The most common include:

  • Fake websites that mimic trusted retailers. Scammers register domain names that look almost identical to the real thing, often with a misspelling or a different top-level domain (like .shop instead of .com).
  • Phishing emails pretending to be order confirmations from Amazon, Walmart, or other major brands. These emails are designed to steal login credentials or payment details.
  • Social media marketplace scams, where a seller lists a desirable item at a low price, takes payment via a peer-to-peer app like Venmo or Cash App, and then never ships anything.
  • Non-delivery fraud on legitimate-looking e-commerce sites. You pay, the site confirms the order, but the product never arrives.

Why it matters

Online shopping scams don’t just cost you money—they can also expose your personal information, including credit card numbers, addresses, and passwords. Once scammers have these details, they may attempt identity theft or sell your data on the dark web.

The problem is particularly acute during holiday shopping seasons and major sales events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, when people are more willing to click quickly and trust deals that seem too good to pass up.

While the Pew data shows that a third of Americans have been hit, the actual number may be higher because many scams go unreported. Victims often feel embarrassed or assume nothing can be done, but that’s not true.

What readers can do

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to avoid most online shopping scams. A few simple habits can dramatically reduce your risk.

Red flags you can spot

  • Prices that are dramatically below market value. If a new iPhone costs $200, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  • Poor website design – broken grammar, blurry images, missing contact pages, or no physical address.
  • Payment methods that bypass buyer protections. Sellers who insist on gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps like Zelle or Cash App should raise suspicion. Credit cards and PayPal’s Goods and Services option offer chargeback rights; most payment apps do not.
  • Misspelled URLs – for example, amaz0n-deals.com instead of amazon.com.
  • Unsolicited emails or texts claiming you have a package waiting or a special discount. Never click the link. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s official website.

Practical protection tips

  • Use a credit card rather than a debit card for online purchases. Credit cards generally have stronger fraud protections.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your shopping accounts wherever possible.
  • Check seller reviews thoroughly, especially on platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace. Look for recent negative reviews mentioning non-delivery.
  • Consider using a virtual credit card number (many banks offer this) for one-time purchases.
  • Avoid making purchases over public Wi-Fi unless you’re using a VPN.

If you get scammed

Act quickly. The faster you respond, the better your chances of recovering your money or limiting damage.

  1. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraudulent and ask about chargeback options.
  2. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track and shut down scammers.
  3. Report the scam to the platform where you encountered the seller (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, etc.).
  4. Monitor your credit report for the next several months. You can get a free weekly report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

No one is immune, but being aware of the most common tactics goes a long way. The next time a deal looks too good to be true, stop. Check the domain name. Pay with a credit card. And if something feels off, walk away.

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.
  • Business Journal Daily. “About a Third of Americans Report Online Shopping Scams.” December 2025.