Fraud data and public response
Scams are big business. Here is where we can push back.
A scam economy runs on pressure, confusion, and money that moves quickly. We can interrupt the next step, verify a contact independently, and share the tactic so fewer people face it alone.
A scammer wants the next decision to happen before you can check the story. A pause, an independent call, and a conversation with someone outside the contact can break that rhythm.
In testimony on March 25, 2026, the FTC said cross-border enforcement against foreign scammers is difficult and described targeting U.S. companies that facilitate their schemes. Consumer Sentinel, its reporting network, combines reports with information from nearly 180 other sources. The FTC reported $15.9 billion in losses in 2025; its upper estimate for U.S. losses in 2024 was $195.9 billion, including an estimated $81.5 billion for adults 60 and older. Those totals differ in year and method.
Interrupt the pressure
Scammers use unexpected contact, urgency, secrecy, and instructions to move money to rush a decision. Stop replying. Do not transfer funds, share remote access, or work through a checklist while the caller stays on the line. End the call and take time to check what was asked.
The pressure may come from someone claiming to be a government agent, bank worker, romantic partner, or investment expert. A calm explanation is still only a claim. First stop taking instructions from that person.
Check through a route you choose
If someone claims to represent a bank, retailer, agency, or investment firm, find its official number or website independently. Call the number on your bank card or use a bookmarked app. For an investment, check the professional and offering through Investor.gov or your state securities regulator.
Do not trust the number, link, account screen, or identity proof provided by the person asking for money. Ask someone you trust to review the request. A real organization can wait while you verify.
Turn one experience into shared knowledge
If targeted, save the messages and note the first contact, story, payment route, and next action requested. Report it to the FTC and the platform where you met the person. If money moved, contact the bank or payment service through its official channel right away.
A report cannot guarantee recovery or a case, but it adds to information that helps agencies and partners spot spreading tactics. Tell someone you trust what arrived, what the person wanted, and which independent check helped you stop.
Practical lessons
End the conversation before deciding what to do with money or account access.
Verify the organization through contact information you found independently.
Save and report the tactic, then share what to watch for with someone you trust.
Original sources
Figures describe different U.S. years and methods: 2025 reported losses versus upper estimates for 2024. The adults-60-and-older estimate is a subset of the nationwide 2024 estimate, and the FTC says underreporting creates considerable uncertainty.
- FTC Testimony: Joint Economic Committee Hearing on the Rising Scam EconomyFederal Trade CommissionOpen original source
- The Rising Global Scam Economy: Modernizing Federal Approaches to Protect Americans from Foreign FraudstersU.S. Congress Joint Economic CommitteeHearing page and witness list; the loss figures are from FTC testimony.Open original source
- Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025Federal Trade CommissionOpen original source
Practice a next step.
Work through a short scenario and rehearse a calm next step before you need one.
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