Online Shopping Scams

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — How to Avoid Being Next A recent report from Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The data, released in November 2025, covers a range of fraudulent experiences — from fake store websites to phishing emails that impersonate well-known retailers. With holiday shopping in full swing and online transactions becoming routine, understanding how these scams work is more than a privacy concern; it’s a practical necessity. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Practical Guide Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most consumers, but alongside its convenience comes a steady rise in scams. Fraudsters create convincing fake websites, send phishing emails disguised as order confirmations, and advertise deals that are simply too good to be true. Recent warnings from organizations like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI highlight that these threats are growing more sophisticated. The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. A few straightforward habits can make a significant difference. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked “Buy Now” on a deal that seemed too good to be true, only to receive nothing or a cheap counterfeit, you’re far from alone. According to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center, about one-third of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33% of American consumers who have lost money, had their personal information stolen, or been tricked into buying from a fraudulent seller. ...

Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot Them and Shop Safely The convenience of ordering almost anything online has made scams more common—and more convincing. According to a recent warning from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, scammers are continuously refining their tactics, using fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads to trick shoppers into handing over money and personal information. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report noted that losses from online shopping fraud reached hundreds of millions of dollars last year, and the numbers are climbing. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Have Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: What to Watch For Introduction If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media or received an email about a package you didn’t order, you’re far from alone. According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 80 million people. With holiday shopping already underway and more purchases migrating to phones and apps, the risk isn’t going away. This article walks through what the data shows and what you can actually do to avoid becoming the next victim. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Online Shopping: How to Protect Yourself If you shop online, you have probably seen deals that seem too good to pass up or received an email about an order you don’t remember placing. You are not alone in wondering whether these are scams. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, roughly one in three Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough that it should give any regular online shopper pause. ...

Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them (2026 Guide) Online shopping has become second nature for most of us, but the convenience also comes with a persistent risk: scams. Criminals are constantly refining their tactics, using fake websites, phishing messages, and fraudulent payment schemes to trick shoppers. A recent alert from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — published January 28, 2026 — warns consumers to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Combined with data from the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, the message is clear: staying informed is the best defense. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before They Cost You Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks and a package is on its way. But the convenience also attracts scammers. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost billions of dollars last year to online shopping fraud alone. The numbers are staggering, and the threat doesn’t discriminate—veterans, military families, and everyday consumers are all targets. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online—Here’s How to Stay Safe If you shop online, you’ve probably seen the warnings: deals that seem too good to be true, unfamiliar websites with misspelled logos, ads on social media for products that never arrive. But it’s easy to assume it won’t happen to you. The data suggests otherwise. ...

Think Before You Click: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Online shopping is convenient, but it’s also become a hunting ground for scammers. The latest FBI Internet Crime Report shows that consumers lost tens of millions of dollars to online shopping scams in 2024 alone. And according to a recent article from VA News, these scams are growing more sophisticated — targeting not just the elderly, but anyone browsing deals on social media, email, or even official-looking websites. ...