Online Shopping Scams

Don’t Get Tricked This Summer: How to Spot Fake Sale Scams Summer sales are a busy time for online shoppers—and for scammers. Every year, criminals ramp up fake deals, phishing attempts, and impersonator ads, hoping to catch people off guard. Recent reports from Bitdefender highlight several active scams, including Pinterest ads that pretend to be Amazon clearance sales, unexpected packages with malicious QR codes, and even phone number hijacking attempts. Before you click that “unbeatable” offer, it helps to know what to look for. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Avoid It If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a link that looked like a trusted store but turned out to be a fake, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about one-third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is striking, but not surprising to anyone who follows consumer fraud trends. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Protect Yourself Introduction A new survey from the Pew Research Center brings a troubling number into focus: about one in three U.S. adults say they have been the victim of an online shopping scam. The finding, published in November 2025, lands at a time when holiday shopping is in full swing and scammers are especially active. If you shop online regularly—and most of us do—understanding the scope of the problem and knowing how to avoid it is worth your time. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are More Common Than You Think – Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a deal that turned out to be fake, you’re not alone. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large share of the population, and the problem touches every age group and income level. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or landed on a website that looked legitimate but turned out to be fake, you’re not alone. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that about a third of Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic is a useful reminder that these scams are not rare exceptions—they are a regular risk for anyone who shops online. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you shop online—and almost everyone does these days—there’s a decent chance you or someone you know has been taken by a scam. According to a new Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a striking number, but it also reflects a reality: fraudsters are getting better at blending in with legitimate sellers. ...

Online shopping scams to watch and simple ways to avoid them Nearly one in three U.S. adults have experienced an online shopping scam, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey. That figure—about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them—underscores just how common these schemes have become. Whether it’s a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media, a phishing email pretending to be a retailer, or a fake website that looks exactly like a trusted brand, the risk is real. ...

One in Three Americans Have Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: What You Need to Know According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The figure comes from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults and underscores how common these frauds have become. Whether you shop on Amazon, social media, or independent websites, the odds are good that you or someone you know has encountered a scam. ...

Watch Out for Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips from the VA The convenience of online shopping comes with risks. Every year, fraudsters set up fake stores, send phishing emails, and advertise deals that seem too good to be true. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently published guidance reminding shoppers—especially veterans and their families—to stay alert. Their message is straightforward: a few simple checks can save you money and protect your personal information. ...

How to Stay Safe from Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA Online shopping is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers who try to take advantage of shoppers. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently issued a warning about the growing threat of online shopping scams, and their advice is worth heeding whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or anyone who buys goods online. ...