Consumers lost an estimated $442 billion across scam types last year, with online shopping purchase scams ranking as the most commonly reported.

Recorded Future® Payment Fraud Intelligence analysts tracked 1,800 merchant accounts used to process card transactions across 2,500 purchase scam websites in H1 2026. Purchase scams succeed by running two parallel deceptions: luring cardholders through brand-impersonation storefronts on social media, and evading acquirers through transaction laundering techniques that hide scam merchants behind fabricated business identities.

AI, shifting consumer shopping behavior, and issuer progress against unauthorized card-not-present fraud are accelerating purchase scam activity. New Mastercard requirements and an industry accord targeting scam advertisements represent the payment system's response.