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At the click of a button, online shoppers can browse, purchase, and have items shipped straight to their door. It’s no surprise that online shopping is the preferred shopping method for many consumers due to its convenience, but with more consumers shopping online, there is an increased opportunity for scams and credit card fraud.
Consumers will be ramping up their purchasing as the busy holiday shopping season approaches and more brands offer sales and deals to entice online shoppers. Consumers shopping for multiple gifts can easily skim over credit card statements without noticing fraudulent purchases.
So, how are consumers who regularly shop online protecting themselves from fraud? This cybersecurity month, we commissioned a survey to find out just how safe online shoppers really are.
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72% of Respondents Shop Online to Save Time but Are Still Concerned About Card Fraud
Consumers shop online for various reasons: the convenience of saving time (72%), sales and promotions (43%), and availability of payment options (44%), among others. But out of all the reasons why shoppers prefer to shop online, 72% of respondents said the time they save is the most attractive benefit to shopping online versus in store.
While the majority of shoppers prefer to shop online to save time, the survey found 81% of consumers wouldn’t mind additional safety measures during the checkout process even if it added time for more protection against credit card fraud.

“As we’re seeing more and more traffic for online shopping, it’s important for consumers to incorporate safe practices to prevent and manage credit card fraud,” said Erica Sandberg, Consumer Finance Expert with CardRates.com. “Consumers can help protect themselves from scammers with simple habits like taking the extra time to inspect credit card statements weekly, changing passwords across online shopping accounts, and enabling two-factor authentication.”
Online Shoppers Taking Preventative Measures to Safeguard Themselves
The survey found that consumers are taking preventative measures to shop online safely. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they regularly inspect their billing statements for unauthorized purchases. Another 69% noted that they can recall all their online purchases within the last 30 days from memory.
The convenience of saving credit card information on various shopping platforms also makes it difficult to keep track of just how many platforms have your information on hand. Accidentally saving your credit card information on file without notice is easy as you go through the online checkout process.
According to survey respondents, 67% said they know all the shopping platforms that have their credit card information saved, and 44% said they change their passwords across platforms every few months.
According to CardRates.com financial experts, consumers should strive to change their passwords every 90 days.
Retailers Hold Responsibility to Protect Consumers
Online shopping isn’t going anywhere. But 69% of respondents noted that fraud or identity theft is their biggest concern when shopping online. There is a level of trust when shopping online that your credit card information is secure, and that the retailer will deliver your package safely and securely.
When that trust is broken, there are adverse effects for both the retailer and the consumer.
“69% of respondents noted that fraud or identity theft is their biggest concern when shopping online.”
The survey found that 88% of respondents believe that stricter laws should be implemented to hold retailers accountable for credit card data breaches. Consumers want to feel secure when shopping online, especially around peak shopping times when scammers take advantage of the uptick in online spending.
Although consumers are implementing the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against potential cybersecurity threats posed by online shopping, it’s apparent there’s a consensus among American consumers that retailers also have a responsibility to provide their services safely and securely.
After all, it is the retailer that benefits from consumer spending!
Methodology
In October 2024, we surveyed 600 American individuals about cybersecurity when shopping online and how safe they are from online scams. The respondents ranged from ages 18 to 65+, with an average age range of 26 to 35. Participants were 58% female and 42% male.