Online Shopping Scams

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA and FTC Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters. Every year, especially during tax season and the holidays, reports of scams spike. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission regularly update their guidance to help people—particularly veterans and military families—protect themselves. Knowing what to watch for can save you money and personal information. ...

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online. Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked “Buy Now” on a deal that seemed too good to be true—and later realized you paid for nothing—you are far from alone. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that about one in three U.S. adults have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of the country. The number is a stark reminder that digital convenience comes with a real, and growing, risk. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid Being Next Nearly a third of U.S. adults say an online shopping scam has happened to them, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. With holiday shopping already underway and major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching, the timing of this data is a good reminder to slow down before you click “buy.” ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe While Buying Online Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people, but it has also become a hunting ground for scammers. According to a recent advisory from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News), deceptive tactics—ranging from fake websites to phishing emails—are on the rise, and shoppers of all ages are losing money. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and with a little awareness, you can avoid them. This guide outlines the common threats, explains why they matter, and gives clear steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re not alone. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough to suggest that most of us either know someone who’s been burned or have been burned ourselves. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe If you have bought anything online in the past few years—and most of us have—there’s a decent chance you’ve run into trouble. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 33% of U.S. adults, and the number is higher among younger shoppers and people who buy frequently from unfamiliar sites. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online: What You Can Do If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be a counterfeit, you are far from alone. According to a new study from the Pew Research Center published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure cuts across age groups, though younger adults and people who use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App report even higher rates of victimization. ...

9 ways to spot and avoid online shopping scams this holiday season Introduction The holiday season means more shopping, more deals, and unfortunately, more scams. According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a significant jump from previous years. Scammers know this is the time of year when people are busy, distracted, and hunting for bargains. The good news: most scams follow predictable patterns, and once you know them, they’re easier to avoid. ...

1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: Essential Safety Tips If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a scam. According to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center, about 33 percent of Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s one in three people. The findings are a reminder that fraud is not a rare event; it’s a routine risk in digital commerce. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself A new report from the Pew Research Center has put a number on something many of us suspected: online shopping scams are startlingly common. According to the study, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 80 million adults—people who have lost money, had their personal information stolen, or received counterfeit goods after clicking “buy.” With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, when deals and deadlines push us to act fast, this statistic ought to grab anyone’s attention. ...