Survey Reveals High Incidence of Online Shopping Fraud

The rise of online shopping has unfortunately attracted fraudulent activity, with a significant number of consumers falling prey to scams. Recent survey data indicates that around 24% of individuals in Germany have experienced online fraud, according to a study commissioned by Schufa involving 1,000 adults in February.

Moreover, 25% of respondents reported knowing someone who has been a victim of such scams. The impact of these fraudulent activities can be severe, with 61% of those affected stating they incurred financial losses, primarily due to receiving either no products or substandard items.

Common fraudulent tactics include:

• Scamming: Deceptive practices aimed at tricking victims into transferring money.
• Identity Theft: Criminals exploiting personal information to gain financial benefits.
• Subscription Traps: Targeting consumers with long-term contracts that reveal their high costs only after signing.

In one-third of online fraud cases, the financial damage ranged between EUR100 and EUR1,000. Additionally, over 28% of victims reported losses between EUR1,000 and EUR10,000, while 4% faced damages exceeding EUR10,000.

Critical personal information was also compromised, with 17% of victims indicating that their bank or credit card details were accessed, and 19% reporting that their personal information, such as addresses and birthdays, was stolen.

In response to these threats, many consumers are taking precautionary measures. Approximately 58% of respondents prioritize using secure passwords, while 35% of those who have previously been victimized have since changed their login credentials.

This survey was conducted by Nordlight Research GmbH on behalf of Schufa from February 17 to 22, 2025, as part of an ongoing effort to gauge consumer experiences with online fraud. Schufa has been regularly conducting such consumer surveys since September 2020, asking questions about personal experiences with internet fraud and financial losses associated with it.