Scams by the Numbers: What the FTC's 2025 Fraud Data Shows
Americans reported losing $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025, a record. Which scams cost the most, how the money was paid, and who reported the biggest losses.
Every year the US Federal Trade Commission publishes what people reported losing to fraud through its Consumer Sentinel network. The 2025 figures, disclosed in March 2026, set another record. They also show clearly which scams do the most damage, and it isn’t the ones most people worry about.
Reported losses hit a record
Reported fraud losses in the US
Losses reported to the FTC, billions of dollars
- 2024
- 2025
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel data. Axis runs from $0 to $16 billion.
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| Year | Reported losses |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $12.5 billion |
| 2025 | $15.9 billion |
That’s an increase of roughly 27% in a single year. The number of fraud reports grew more slowly, from about 2.6 million to about 3 million, which means the average loss per report went up: scams are taking more money from each victim.
These are only reported losses. Most fraud is never reported. The FTC has estimated that, allowing for underreporting, the true cost of fraud to US consumers in 2024 could have been as high as $195.9 billion.
Investment scams cost the most
The two most damaging scam types
Reported losses in 2025, billions of dollars
- Investment scams
- Imposter scams
Source: FTC, as reported by CNBC and Finextra. Axis runs from $0 to $8 billion.
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| Scam type | Reported losses, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Investment scams | $7.9 billion |
| Imposter scams | $3.5 billion |
Investment scams caused half of all reported losses. They typically promise high returns, often in cryptocurrency, and build trust over weeks or months through social media, messaging apps or dating sites before the victim is persuaded to move large sums.
Imposter scams were the most commonly reported type for the fifth year running. Scammers pretend to be a business (about $1 billion in losses), a government agency (about $920 million), a relative, or tech support. They create urgency: a frozen account, a tax problem, a family emergency.
How the money moved
The method of payment says a lot about how much is lost. Credit cards and payment apps were the payment methods most often used in reported scams, with about $737 million in losses. But bank transfers and cryptocurrency accounted for more than $4 billion. Scammers push victims toward these methods precisely because transfers are hard to reverse.
Older people lose more
Reported losses by age
Among reports that included the person's age, 2025, billions of dollars
- Age 50 and over
- Under 50
Source: FTC data as reported by AARP and CNBC. Many reports don't include age, so these totals are smaller than overall losses. Axis $0 to $4.5 billion.
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| Age group | Reported losses, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 50 and over | $4.3 billion |
| Under 50 | $2.3 billion |
Younger people report fraud more often, but older people report losing far more. Investment and imposter scams that drain savings and retirement accounts drive much of the difference.
What the data suggests you do
- Be suspicious of investment opportunities that arrive unprompted, especially through social media, messaging apps or someone you met online.
- Never move money because someone calls, texts or emails to say your account is at risk. Hang up and contact the bank or agency yourself, using a number you find independently.
- Treat requests for bank transfers, crypto or gift cards as a red flag. Legitimate businesses and government agencies don’t demand them.
- Talk to family, particularly older relatives, about the most common scripts.
- Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports feed the data that investigators and researchers use, including the figures in this article.