Losses risingUpdated 4 October 2026
Trend summary
- Every official fraud measure in the US rose again in 2025, and the losses are growing faster than the number of reports.
- Consumers reported losing $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025, up about 25% from 2024, across about 3 million reports (FTC).
- The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged $20.9 billion in losses, up 26%. People aged 60 and over lost $7.75 billion of it.
- Investment scams cost the most ($7.9 billion reported to the FTC); impostor scams were reported most often.
$15.9bnfraud losses reported to the FTC, 2025
$20.9bninternet crime losses, FBI IC3, 2025
$7.9bnlost to investment scams (FTC)
$7.75bnlost by people aged 60+ (IC3)
What the numbers show
The FTC told Congress in March 2026 that its Consumer Sentinel Network received about 3 million fraud reports in 2025 with $15.9 billion in losses, against 2.6 million reports and just over $12 billion the year before (FTC). More than 1 million reports concerned impostor scams, with $3.5 billion lost, and in June the FTC added that government impersonators took about $920 million and business impersonators about $1 billion (FTC).
The FBI’s 2025 IC3 report, released on 7 April 2026, counted more than 1 million complaints and $20.9 billion in losses. Investment fraud led at $8.65 billion, followed by business email compromise ($3.05 billion) and tech-support scams ($2.1 billion). Cryptocurrency was the main channel for investment and tech-support losses.
What is driving it
Reported losses are only the part people report, so the true figure is higher. The shift is toward fewer, larger thefts: long “investment” relationships built over social media and messaging apps, and fake bank security alerts that persuade people to move their savings to a “safe” account. Payment in crypto or by bank transfer makes the money hard to recover.
Recent cases
- September 2026: the FTC sought public comment on extending its impersonation rule to platforms that promote impersonation scams.
- April 2026: FTC data showed billions lost to scams that started on social media.
Press releases and official reports, 2023–2026
Five key releases a year for the last four years, newest first. Most are from federal agencies; a few news reports are included where they are the clearest public record of an event. Releases from 2007–2022 are in the expandable list after 2023.
2026
- Sep 2026FTCFTC Seeks Public Comment on Whether to Update Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to Address Platforms’ Role in Promoting Impersonation Scams
- 15 Jun 2026FTCFTC Data Show People Reported Losing $3.5 Billion to Imposter Scams in 2025
- Apr 2026FTCNew FTC Data Show People Have Lost Billions to Social Media Scams
- 7 Apr 2026FBI IC32025 Internet Crime Report (PDF)
- 25 Mar 2026FTCFTC Testifies before the Joint Economic Committee on Agency’s Efforts to Combat Fraud
2025
- Dec 2025FTCFTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults
- Aug 2025FTCFTC Data Show a More Than Four-Fold Increase in Reports of Impersonation Scammers Stealing Tens and Even Hundreds of Thousands from Older Adults
- 23 Apr 2025FBIFBI Releases Annual Internet Crime Report
- 16 Apr 2025FTCNew FTC Data Show Top Text Message Scams of 2024; Overall Losses to Text Scams Hit $470 Million
- 10 Mar 2025FTCNew FTC Data Show a Big Jump in Reported Losses to Fraud to $12.5 Billion in 2024
2024
- 3 Sep 2024FTCNew FTC Data Shows Massive Increase in Losses to Bitcoin ATM Scams
- 14 Jun 2024FTCFTC Data Shows Major Increases in Cash Payments to Government Impersonation Scammers
- 24 May 2024FTCNew FTC Data Shed Light on Companies Most Frequently Impersonated by Scammers
- Apr 2024FTCFTC Announces Impersonation Rule Goes into Effect Today
- 9 Feb 2024FTCAs Nationwide Fraud Losses Top $10 Billion in 2023, FTC Steps Up Efforts to Protect the Public
2023
- Oct 2023FTCFTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults
- 6 Oct 2023FTCFTC Data Shows Consumers Report Losing $2.7 Billion to Social Media Scams Since 2021
- 8 Jun 2023FTCNew FTC Data Analysis Shows Bank Impersonation is Most-Reported Text Message Scam
- 23 Feb 2023FTCNew FTC Data Show Consumers Reported Losing Nearly $8.8 Billion to Scams in 2022
- Feb 2023FTCNew FTC Data Reveals Top Lies Told by Romance Scammers
View 20 years of major fraud press releases (2007–2026)80 more from 2007–2022, five a year, newest first
2022
- 8 Dec 2022FTCNew Analysis Shows Adults Under 60 Report Losses to Online Shopping Scams, Investment Scams More Than Older Adults
- Oct 2022FTCFTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults
- 3 Jun 2022FTCNew Analysis Finds Consumers Reported Losing More than $1 Billion in Cryptocurrency to Scams since 2021
- 22 Mar 2022FBIFBI Releases 2021 Internet Crime Report
- 22 Feb 2022FTCNew Data Shows FTC Received 2.8 Million Fraud Reports from Consumers in 2021
2021
- 8 Dec 2021FTCFTC Data Show Major Increase in Gift Cards As Scam Payment Method
- May 2021FTCFTC Data Shows Huge Spike in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
- 3 Mar 2021FTCFTC Launches Initiative to Encourage Lower-Income Communities to Report Fraud
- 10 Feb 2021FTCNew FTC Data Show Massive Increase in Romance Scams, $304M in Losses
- 4 Feb 2021FTCNew Data Shows FTC Received 2.2 Million Fraud Reports from Consumers in 2020
2020
- 14 Dec 2020FTCAs Scammers Leverage Pandemic Fears, FTC and Law Enforcement Partners Crack Down on Deceptive Income Schemes Nationwide
- 21 Oct 2020FTCFTC Data Shows Big Jump in Consumer Reports about Scams Originating on Social Media
- 1 Jul 2020FTCFTC Data Shows Record Surge in Online Shopping Complaints During Pandemic
- 31 Mar 2020FTCFTC Data Shows Jump in Coronavirus-related Complaints from Consumers
- 23 Jan 2020FTCNew FTC Data Shows that the FTC Received Nearly 1.7 Million Fraud Reports, and FTC Lawsuits Returned $232 Million to Consumers in 2019
2019
- 23 Oct 2019FTCFTC Report to Congress Details Fraud Reports from Older Consumers
- 1 Oct 2019FTCMillennials More likely to Report Losing Money to Fraud than Older Generations, New FTC Data Spotlight Reports
- 22 Apr 2019FBIFBI Releases the Internet Crime Complaint Center 2018 Internet Crime Report
- 12 Apr 2019FTCFTC Data Spotlight Shows Steep Rise in Complaints about Social Security Scams, Overtaking IRS Scam Complaints
- 28 Feb 2019FTCImposter Scams Top Complaints Made to FTC in 2018
2018
- 18 Oct 2018FTCFTC Details Efforts to Protect Older Consumers in Report to Congress
- 7 May 2018FBI2017 Internet Crime Report Released
- 3 Apr 2018FTCFTC-IRS Initiative Aims to Make it Easier for Consumers to Report Tax-Related Identity Theft
- 1 Mar 2018FTCFTC Releases Annual Summary of Complaints Reported by Consumers
- 28 Feb 2018FTCFTC to Release Annual Consumer Sentinel Data Book
2017
- Nov 2017FTCFTC Alerts Consumers: If Scammers Had You Pay Them Via Western Union, You Can Now File a Claim to Get Money Back
- May 2017FTCFTC and Federal, State and International Partners Announce Major Crackdown on Tech Support Scams
- 3 Mar 2017FTCFTC Releases Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints
- Feb 2017FTCFTC Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee on Its Efforts to Combat Fraud Affecting Older Americans
- Jan 2017FTC / DOJWestern Union Admits Anti-Money Laundering Violations and Settles Consumer Fraud Charges, Forfeits $586 Million in Settlement with FTC and Justice Department
2016
- Jun 2016FTCNew FTC Resources Warn Consumers About Imposter Scams
- Jun 2016FTCFTC, Florida Attorney General Take Action Against Illegal Robocall Operation
- May 2016FTCFTC Adds Defendants, Charges in Ongoing Tech Support Scam Case
- 1 Mar 2016FTCFTC Releases Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints
- Jan 2016FTCFTC and State Law Enforcement Partners Announce More Actions and Results in Continuing Crackdown Against Abusive Debt Collectors
2015
- Nov 2015FTCFTC and Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Partners Announce Nationwide Crackdown Against Abusive Debt Collectors
- Oct 2015FTCFTC Testifies on Efforts to Stop Illegal Tech Support Scams Before Senate Special Committee on Aging
- Oct 2015FTCFTC Testifies on Efforts to Stop Fraud Affecting Older Americans Before House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Apr 2015FTCFTC Testifies on Identity Theft, IRS Imposter Scams Before Senate Special Committee on Aging
- 27 Feb 2015FTCIdentity Theft Tops FTC’s Consumer Complaint Categories Again in 2014
2014
- Oct 2014FTCFTC Takes Action to Stop Phantom Debt Scam That Targeted Spanish-Speaking Consumers Nationwide
- Sep 2014FTCFTC Stops Abusive Debt Collection Operation That Threatened Consumers with Legal Action and Arrest for Not Paying ‘Phantom’ Debts
- Jul 2014FTCFederal and State Agencies Stop Phony Mortgage Relief Schemes
- Jul 2014FTCFTC Testifies on Efforts to Stop Phone Scams Before Senate Special Committee on Aging
- Feb 2014FTCFTC Announces Top National Consumer Complaints for 2013
2013
- Nov 2013FTCFinal Six Defendants in ‘Rachel Robocall’ Scheme Settle FTC Charges
- 14 May 2013FBIIC3 2012 Internet Crime Report Released
- Apr 2013FTCFTC Survey for 2011 Shows an Estimated 25.6 Million Americans Fell Victim to Fraud
- Mar 2013FTCFTC’s Northeast Region Releases Top Complaint Categories in 2012
- Feb 2013FTCFTC Releases Top 10 Complaint Categories for 2012
2012
- Dec 2012FTCAt FTC’s Request, Court Halts Operation That Allegedly Deceived Consumers with Bogus Debt Relief Services
- Nov 2012FTCFTC Expands Fight Against Deceptive Business Opportunity Schemes
- Oct 2012FTCFTC Cracks Down on Phony Mortgage Relief Schemes
- 10 May 2012FBIIC3 2011 Internet Crime Report Released
- Jan 2012FTCFTC Action Terminates Nationwide Employment Scam
2011
- Aug 2011FTCFTC Permanently Halts Operation that Allegedly Made Bogus Claims about Eliminating Consumers’ Debt
- Jun 2011FTCCourt Bans Defendants from Selling Work-at-Home and Grant Scams, and Orders Them to Pay $10.4 Million
- Mar 2011FTCFTC Releases List of Top Consumer Complaints in 2010; Identity Theft Tops the List Again
- Mar 2011FTCFTC Steps Up Efforts Against Scams That Target Financially-Strapped Consumers
- Mar 2011FTCFTC To Host Workshop on Protecting Consumers From Lottery, Prize, and Sweepstakes Scams and Other Frauds that Use Money Transfers
2010
- Nov 2010FTCFTC Announces Series of Actions Against Mortgage Relief Operations Charged with Deceiving Distressed Homeowners
- Jun 2010FTCFTC Settlement Orders Ban More Than A Dozen Marketers from Selling Mortgage Relief Services; Repeat Offender Ordered to Pay $11.4 Million for Contempt
- Mar 2010FTCCredit Repair Scammers Settle FTC Charges
- Feb 2010FTCFTC Cracks Down on Con Artists Who Target Jobless Americans
- Feb 2010FTCFTC Issues Report of 2009 Top Consumer Complaints
2009
- Jul 2009FTCFTC Cracks Down on Scammers Trying to Take Advantage of the Economic Downturn
- 22 Jun 2009SECSEC Charges Madoff Solicitors and Feeder With Fraud
- Mar 2009SECSEC Charges Madoff Auditors With Fraud
- 17 Feb 2009SECSEC Charges R. Allen Stanford, Stanford International Bank for Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Scheme
- Feb 2009FTCFTC Releases List of Top Consumer Complaints in 2008
2008
- 16 Dec 2008SECStatement Regarding Madoff Investigation
- Dec 2008SECSEC Charges Bernard L. Madoff for Multi-Billion Dollar Ponzi Scheme
- Apr 2008FTCFederal Court Prohibits Three Defendants from Cramming Unauthorized Charges on Consumers Telephone Bills
- Feb 2008FTCFTC Testifies on Efforts to Stop Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Fraud
- Feb 2008FTCFTC Releases List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2007
2007
- Dec 2007FTCFTC Testifies on Efforts to Combat Identity Theft and Protect Consumer Privacy
- Oct 2007FTCFTC Releases Consumer Fraud Survey
- Oct 2007FTCAlleged Swindlers Agree to Settle FTC Charges of Deceptive Business Opportunity Sales
- 16 Mar 2007FBIFBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center Releases 2006 Statistics
- Feb 2007FTCFTC Issues Annual List of Top Consumer Complaints
Photo list
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases linked above; where agencies publish preliminary numbers we say so, because they are revised. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.