{"id":17162,"date":"2024-05-03T07:19:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T07:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/?p=17162"},"modified":"2024-05-03T07:19:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T07:19:32","slug":"scam-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/scam-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"40+ Alarming Scam Statistics You Need To Know [2026]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Did some offer feel too good to be true, recently? SCAM WARNING!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Federal Trade Commission data, US adults lost <strong>$10 billion<\/strong> to fraudsters in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People <strong>lost $47,063,528<\/strong> to <strong>investment scams<\/strong>, making it the top scamming category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dating and romance scams<\/strong> resulted in a <strong>loss <\/strong>of <strong>$5,888,270<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>45,103 financial loss<\/strong> reports due to scams were <strong>filed last year<\/strong> in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Are you taking proactive steps to stay safe? <\/em>Stay informed and protect yourself with revealing scam statistics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#top-scam-statistics-editors-pick\">Top Scam Statistics: Editor\u2019s Pick<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#scam-victims-statistics\">Scam Victims Statistics<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#us-scam-statistics\">US Scam Statistics<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#mediums-and-contact-of-scams\">Mediums And Contact of Scams<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#top-scam-cases-by-amount-lost\">Top Scam Cases By Amount Lost<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-scam-statistics-editors-pick\">Top Scam Statistics: Editor\u2019s Pick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-stats-1024x427.jpg\" alt=\"The mobile phone call was the primary delivery method by scammers, resulting in a loss of $10,483,852\" class=\"wp-image-17168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-stats-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-stats-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-stats-768x320.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-stats.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scams <strong>mimicking government officials and services<\/strong> grew <strong>15% in 2023<\/strong>.<sup> [1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phishing scams <\/strong>caused a loss of <strong>$3,858,582<\/strong>.<sup> [1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scams related to<strong> false jobs &amp; employment<\/strong> led to losses of about <strong>$3,314,587<\/strong>.<sup> [1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Identity theft scams<\/strong> accounted for losses totaling <strong>$1,819,691<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Offline scams<\/strong> are more prevalent than <strong>online frauds<\/strong>, with <strong>58%<\/strong> of scammers using <strong>old-fashioned techniques<\/strong>.<sup> [4]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>85% of doorstep fraud victims<\/strong> are people <strong>over 65 years<\/strong> of age.<sup> [4]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Email scams<\/strong> caused losses totaling<strong> $3,761,972<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Text message scams<\/strong> resulted in the highest number of reports (<strong>25,463<\/strong>) but comparatively <strong>lower losses ($475,757)<\/strong>.<sup> [1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People lost about<strong> $3,030,289<\/strong> to scams via<strong> social networking platforms<\/strong>.<sup> [1]<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"scam-victims-statistics\">Scam Victims Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Are scams increasing?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Who do they target?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>45103 financial loss <\/strong>reports due to scams were filed last year in the US. <sup>[1]<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>57%<\/strong> of scam victims are <strong>females<\/strong> and lost<strong> $12,821,045.<\/strong> <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>50.6% <\/strong>of reports are filed by <strong>females<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While <strong>males <\/strong>account for<strong> 42.9%<\/strong> of the amount lost (<strong>$9,632,07<\/strong>1) to scams, <strong>48.2% of reports are filed (30,233)<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-victims-by-gender-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Scam victims by gender\" class=\"wp-image-17169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-victims-by-gender-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-victims-by-gender-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-victims-by-gender-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/scam-victims-by-gender.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/research-and-resources\/scam-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Scamwatch<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"us-scam-statistics\">US Scam Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <strong>Federal Trade Commission data<\/strong>, US adults lost a record <strong>$10 billion<\/strong> to <strong>fraudsters <\/strong>in 2023. <sup>[2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>US adults are usual targets of these fraudsters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About 690,000<\/strong> people were giving them money during a scam. <sup>[2]<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Marginally 624,000<\/strong> people reported losing money to <strong>fraud scams<\/strong>, <strong>totaling $8.9 million<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scams <strong>mimicking government officials<\/strong> and <strong>services<\/strong> grew <strong>15% <\/strong>&nbsp;in 2023. <sup>[3]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/US-adult-fraud-stats-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Total amount US adults lose to fraud each year\" class=\"wp-image-17171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/US-adult-fraud-stats-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/US-adult-fraud-stats-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/US-adult-fraud-stats-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/US-adult-fraud-stats.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/data-visualizations\/explore-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Federal Trade Commission<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mediums-and-contact-of-scams\">Mediums And Contact of Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>How do scammers contact people and deliver fraud?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The mobile phone cal<\/strong>l was the delivery method for most of the scammers with people losing about<strong> $10,483,852<\/strong> and the number of reports being<strong> 11,916<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next is<strong> emails <\/strong>with<strong> $3,761,972 <\/strong>amount lost and<strong> 20,350 reports<\/strong> being filed. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People easily sense scams by text messages and report them. <strong>Text messages<\/strong> have the highest<strong> number of reports<\/strong> (<strong>25,463)<\/strong> with<strong> less<\/strong> <strong>amount lost<\/strong> (<strong>$475, 757<\/strong>) comparatively. <sup>[1]<\/sup><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Delivery Method<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Amount Lost<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Number of Reports<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Phone<\/td><td>$10,483,852<\/td><td>11,916<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Email<\/td><td>$3,761,972<\/td><td>20,350<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Social Networking&nbsp;<\/td><td>$3,030,289<\/td><td>4,241<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mobile Apps<\/td><td>$2,314,698<\/td><td>1,204<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In-person<\/td><td>$1,901,612<\/td><td>1,031<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Internet<\/td><td>$1,840,158<\/td><td>2,853<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Text Message<\/td><td>$475, 757<\/td><td>25,463<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mail<\/td><td>$12,888<\/td><td>545<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/research-and-resources\/scam-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Scamwatch<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-scam-cases-by-amount-lost\">Top Scam Cases By Amount Lost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to scamming, there can be many ways from phishing to identity theft. Let\u2019s look at top scams by the amount lost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/types-of-scams.jpg\" alt=\"Top 10 scams by the amount lost\" class=\"wp-image-17173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/types-of-scams.jpg 800w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/types-of-scams-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/types-of-scams-768x864.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/research-and-resources\/scam-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Scamwatch<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>People<strong> lost $47,063,528<\/strong> to <strong>investment scams<\/strong>, making it the top scamming category. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next is<strong> dating and romance<\/strong>, yes! Shockingly people were fooled with the romantic mask and<strong> lost $5,888,270<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phishing<\/strong> is following closely with a <strong>loss of $3,858,582<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People<strong> lost <\/strong>about <strong>$3,314,587 in scams<\/strong> where they are trapped for <strong>false jobs &amp; employment<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People were scammed for<strong> identity theft ($1,819,691)<\/strong>, <strong>classified scams ($1,100,990)<\/strong>, and <strong>online shopping ($864,933) scams<\/strong>. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threats to life, blackmailing, and remote access scams<\/strong> are other major prevalent scams to be aware and cautious of. <sup>[1]<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"offline-scam-statistics\">Offline Scam Statistics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Offline scams are still more prevalent than online frauds. It is to be noted that a<strong> stolen wallet <\/strong>can <strong>harm <\/strong>your identity more than <strong>online fraud.<\/strong> <sup>[4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>58%<\/strong> of scammers are using<strong> old-fashioned techniques<\/strong>. <sup>[4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Elderly people<\/strong> who are vulnerable, not physically capable, or lonely are more likely to be victims of doorstep fraud. <sup>[4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>85%<\/strong> of <strong>doorstep fraud victims<\/strong> are people<strong> over 65 years<\/strong> of age. <sup>[4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#fff9ed\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>If you found this article interesting, you might enjoy these too:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>[related_posts_by_tax taxonomies=&#8221;category,post_tag&#8221; posts_per_page=&#8221;5&#8243; orderby=&#8221;post_modified&#8221; title=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fa-qs\">FAQs&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-i-identify-a-scam\">How can I identify a scam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recognize common tactics.<\/strong> Scammers often use pressure tactics, promises of unrealistic rewards, or threats to coerce victims into taking action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trust your instincts.<\/strong> If something feels off or too good to be true, it likely is. Listen to your gut and exercise caution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify sources.<\/strong> Always verify the identity and legitimacy of the sender or caller before providing any personal information or making payments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-should-i-do-if-i-suspect-a-scam\">What should I do if I suspect a scam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do not engage.<\/strong> Avoid responding to or interacting with suspicious communications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Report it.<\/strong> Report any suspected scams to relevant authorities such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local consumer protection agencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Educate others.<\/strong> Spread awareness about common scam tactics and encourage others to stay vigilant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitor accounts.<\/strong> Regularly monitor your financial accounts and credit report for any unusual activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-i-protect-myself-from-online-scams\">How can I protect myself from online scams?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use strong, unique passwords.<\/strong> Create strong passwords for online accounts and avoid using the same password across multiple platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enable two-factor authentication.<\/strong> Add an extra layer of security to your online accounts with two-factor authentication wherever possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep software updated.<\/strong> Ensure that your devices and software are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be cautious with personal information.<\/strong> Avoid sharing sensitive personal information online unless necessary, and only do so on secure, reputable websites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-some-common-warning-signs-of-a-scam\">What are some common warning signs of a scam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unsolicited requests for personal information or payment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promises of guaranteed returns or winnings with little to no risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High-pressure sales tactics or demands for immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poor grammar or spelling in communications may indicate a fraudulent attempt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requests for payment via unconventional methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Scared of scams?<\/em> Well, Staying informed about common scams and understanding how to recognize and prevent them is crucial in today&#8217;s digital landscape.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By arming yourself with knowledge and adopting proactive measures, you can better protect yourself from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"source\">Source<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scamwatch. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/research-and-resources\/scam-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Scam statistics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FTC. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/data-visualizations\/explore-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Data<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consumer. ftc. <a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">How to avoid a government impersonation scam<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Legal Jobs.<a href=\"https:\/\/legaljobs.io\/blog\/scam-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> Scam statistics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did some offer feel too good to be true, recently? SCAM WARNING! According to Federal Trade Commission data, US adults\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[213,172],"class_list":["post-17162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-statistics","tag-scam","tag-theft"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobera.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}