Online shopping is convenient — but risky. As Americans head into Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a new Pew Research Center report reveals that 36% of U.S. adults have fallen victim to at least one form of online shopping scam. These range from fake items and undelivered goods to stolen credit card info.
Most Americans see scams as a major problem
In a national survey conducted in April 2025:
- 85% of adults say online scams are a problem on shopping sites and apps
- 50% call them a major problem
Online shopping fraud now ranks among the most common scams—more than phishing, ransomware, or investment fraud .
What kinds of scams are most common?
Here’s what Americans report:
- 31% say they bought an item that never arrived
- 17% received a counterfeit product with no refund
- 12% experienced one of these issues in the past year
- NET: 36% experienced at least one of these scams
Despite these risks, 92% of adults say they still shop online.
Younger adults, Black and Hispanic shoppers hit hardest
Fraud isn’t evenly distributed. Pew’s data shows clear demographic gaps:
- 42% of adults under 30 report being scammed
- 26% of adults 65+ say the same
- 43% of Hispanic adults and 41% of Black adults report incidents
- Just 33% of White adults say they’ve been scammed
Income and education made little difference—but age and race did.
FTC: Online shopping fraud cost Americans $434M in 2024
According to the Federal Trade Commission:
- 387,000+ online shopping scams were reported in 2024
- $434.4 million in losses were recorded
- $130 was the median consumer loss per incident
While that’s down from 2021’s peak in volume, total losses are rising again. And the real number could be far higher—74% of people who lost money in scams say they never reported it.
What to watch for this holiday season
With holiday shopping underway, fraud experts warn of these common red flags:
- “Too good to be true” discounts from unknown retailers
- Fake tracking numbers or shipping notices
- Social media ads linking to sketchy sites
- Phishing texts impersonating delivery services
- Unsecure payment portals or requests for wire transfers
Staying safe means using verified platforms, reading reviews, and checking refund policies before purchasing.
Key takeaways
- A third of Americans have experienced online shopping fraud, and most say scams are getting worse.
- Black and Hispanic consumers report higher rates of scam experiences.
- The FTC logged nearly $435M in losses from online shopping fraud last year.
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