Online Shopping Scams Hit a Third of Americans: How to Protect Yourself

The holidays are prime time for hunting bargains online. But new data from the Pew Research Center should give any shopper pause: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. With more people turning to social media, payment apps, and unfamiliar sellers for deals, the risk isn’t going away. Here’s what’s happening and how to shop smarter.

What Happened

In November 2025, Pew Research Center surveyed U.S. adults and found that 33% reported personally experiencing an online shopping scam. That’s one in three people. The problem cuts across age groups and income levels, though younger adults who tend to shop more on social platforms may be especially exposed. Earlier Pew research from July 2025 also found that online scams and attacks affect a broad swath of Americans, and a 2022 study noted that payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring security concerns alongside convenience. Meanwhile, a 2024 Pew report showed a majority of TikTok users rely on the platform for product reviews and recommendations—a space where scammers often blend in.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams aren’t just about losing a few dollars on a fake item. They can drain bank accounts, compromise credit cards, and lead to identity theft. And because many scams involve phony websites, phishing messages, or social media sellers who vanish after taking payment, the money is often unrecoverable. The holiday shopping rush creates urgency and distraction—exactly what scammers exploit. Understanding the scale of the problem (one in three people affected) makes it clear that the risk is real, not a fringe concern.

What Readers Can Do

There are concrete steps you can take to reduce your chances of being scammed, and they don’t require tech expertise.

1. Recognize common scam types.

  • Fake online stores that mimic legitimate brands, often with prices too good to be true.
  • Phishing emails or texts that look like order confirmations or shipping updates but lead to malicious sites.
  • Payment app scams (Venmo, Cash App) where sellers ask for money upfront and then disappear.
  • Social media marketplace fraud, especially on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

2. Watch for red flags.

  • Unrealistic discounts (e.g., 80% off a popular item).
  • Pressure to act fast—“limited stock” or “sale ends tonight” without a real countdown.
  • Sellers who only accept wire transfers, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps (no credit card option).
  • Poor website design, missing contact information, or no clear return policy.
  • Seller reviews that all seem overly positive or were posted on the same day.

3. Build prevention habits.

  • Shop on reputable websites you already know. If you’re trying a new store, search for reviews from third-party sources (not just the site itself).
  • Use a credit card for online purchases when possible. Credit cards often offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your payment accounts and email.
  • Set up transaction alerts so you’re notified of every charge.
  • Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s website.
  • Be cautious with “too good to be true” deals shared via social media influencers—many are paid promotions, and some are outright scams.

4. Know what to do if you’re scammed.

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge and freeze the account if needed.
  • Change passwords for the affected accounts and any other accounts using the same password.
  • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Monitor your credit reports for unusual activity. You can get free weekly reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • If you paid via a payment app, report the transaction to the app’s support team—some platforms have limited buyer protection, but it’s worth trying.

Staying safe while shopping online doesn’t mean giving up on deals. It means slowing down, checking details, and using payment methods that give you recourse. With a third of Americans already hit by these scams, a little caution can save you a lot of trouble.

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.