Online shopping scams to watch and simple ways to avoid them

New Pew data shows 1 in 3 Americans hit by online shopping scams — here’s what to know before Black Friday.

What happened

A Pew Research Center survey published in November 2025 found that about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam at some point. The figure comes from a nationally representative survey and covers a wide range of fraudulent activity, from fake listings to phishing emails that impersonate retailers.

Pew’s broader research on online scams (released July 2025) previously showed that Americans encounter a variety of digital fraud, but the shopping-specific statistic is newly available just ahead of the holiday shopping season. The data does not break down exactly which types of scams were most common, but it does underscore how widespread the problem has become.

Why it matters

The timing is not accidental. Black Friday and Cyber Monday fall within days of the report’s publication, and millions of Americans will be shopping online in the coming weeks. Scammers know this and adjust their tactics accordingly. With mobile shopping continuing to grow and social media influencers now playing a larger role in purchase decisions (Pew, 2022), attackers have more entry points than ever.

If roughly one in three adults has already been scammed, the risk during a high-volume shopping period is likely even higher. The consequences go beyond losing money: victims may also expose payment details, addresses, and login credentials that can be used for identity theft later.

What readers can do

Most scams fall into a few predictable categories. Knowing what to look for is the first step.

Common scams this season:

  • Fake retailer websites that look nearly identical to well-known stores but offer prices that are too good to be true.
  • Phishing emails that claim an order is delayed or a payment failed, then ask you to click a link and enter personal information.
  • Social media marketplace fraud, where sellers on platforms like Facebook or Instagram take payment but never ship the item.
  • Lookalike ads promoted through search engines that direct you to a spoofed checkout page.

How to protect yourself before clicking:

  • Verify the website address carefully. Scammers often change one letter or use a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example).
  • Use a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Zelle.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your shopping accounts and email. It won’t prevent a scam initiated by you, but it makes it harder for attackers to take over your accounts after a breach.

During checkout:

  • Never pay with wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for online purchases. These methods have no buyer protection and are almost always a sign of a scam.
  • Check seller reviews from multiple sources, not just the seller’s own site. For third-party marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, review the seller’s history and recent feedback.

After purchase:

  • Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Many card issuers allow you to set up real-time alerts for any charge above a certain amount.
  • Save order confirmation emails and tracking numbers. If a package never arrives, you have a record for the dispute.

If you have been scammed:

  1. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the fraud and request a chargeback.
  2. Change passwords for any accounts you may have entered on the scam site.
  3. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track patterns and sometimes to shut down operations.
  4. Document everything: screenshots, emails, transaction IDs, and communications with the seller.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center. “About 1 in 3 Americans say they experienced an online shopping scam.” November 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today.” July 2025.
  • Pew Research Center. “For shopping, Americans turn to mobile phones while influencers become a factor.” November 2022.
  • Fingerlakes1.com. “BLACK FRIDAY SCAMS: What to watch out for online this year.” November 2025.

This article was written for general informational purposes and is not professional legal or financial advice. Scam tactics evolve quickly; always verify current warnings from official sources like the FTC or your local consumer protection agency.