Online Shopping Scams

Whatever you're shopping online for, tickets to a concert or sports event, a used car, or even a new pet, it's important to guard against online shopping scams. According to the FTC, online shopping scams most often originate on social media or through websites or apps and, in 2025, were the most frequently reported scam type among consumers under the age of 80.

Online scammers are smart. Before you buy, use the online shopping safety tips below to identify online shopping scams so you can avoid them.

10 tips to identify and help protect yourself from online shopping scams

Tip #1: Be on the lookout for fake websites. Many scammers buy ads to misdirect people to their fake sites.
Tip #2: Be wary of social media ads that may take you to an unfamiliar shopping site or a social media-based store.
Tip #3: Use caution when doing business with sellers who insist on immediate payment through digital platforms such as Zelle®, Venmo, Cash App, or online wire transfers.
Tip #4: Be suspicious of deals with unbelievably low prices that seem too good to be true.
Tip #5: Avoid sellers who use pressure tactics to get you to buy right away.
Tip #6: Pay with a credit card if you can, especially if you're not familiar with the seller.
Tip #7: If a friend posts items for sale on their social media feed, contact them directly before sending money. Their account could have been hacked.
Tip #8: Never give out sensitive information such as your bank account number, PIN, or one-time access code.
Tip #9: Search for the seller and the word “scam” to vet them before sending money.
Tip #10: Go slow, research the seller carefully, and if something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and walk away.

Shopping online is convenient, fast, and easy. However, it's important to know how to shop safely so you can avoid online shopping scams. By putting these tips into practice, you can feel more confident that you will recognize the signs of a scam.

Remember, it’s better to be cautious and risk losing a deal rather than lose your money. If you think you've been scammed, report the scam right away to your bank and the Federal Trade Commission.

Learn how to recognize common scams and cyber threats.

Important Information and Footnotes

Federal Trade Commission: Age and Fraud, Consumer Sentinel Network, accessed March 2, 2026.

Enrollment with Zelle® through Wells Fargo Online® or Wells Fargo Business Online® is required. Terms and conditions apply. To send or receive money with Zelle®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account enrolled with Zelle® through their bank. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. For your protection, Zelle® should only be used for sending money to friends, family, or others you trust. Neither Wells Fargo nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected. Payment requests must be sent to enrolled Zelle® users. For more information, view the Zelle® Transfer Service Addendum to the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement. Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. Account fees (e.g., monthly service, overdraft, Business Account Analysis fees) may apply to Wells Fargo account(s) with which you use Zelle®.

Disclosures

  • Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

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