- In 2024, Americans lost $ 12.5 billion in scams, more than $ 2.5 billion year after year
- The scams that originated online exceeded the most traditional methods
- The elderly are no longer the ones who lose more money
American citizens lost $ 12.5 billion for different types of fraud in 2024, has affirmed a new report by the Federal Commerce of the United States (FTC), which means that the number increases by $ 2.5 billion compared to the previous year.
The fraud is not becoming more frequent, says the FTC, but it is becoming more expensive. One in three people who reported fraud in 2024 said they lost money, compared to one in four last year.
Of the $ 12.5 billion, a large part (more than $ 3 billion) came from scams that originated online, largely exceeding approximately $ 1.9 billion lost in more traditional scams (phone calls, for example). However, telephone calls led to higher total losses, since the victims lost a median of $ 1,500 per person, and the scams that passed through transfers and bank payments represented $ 2 billion in losses, more than any other payment method. The cryptocurrency scams arrived secondly with $ 1.4 billion drained.
Investment scams
Investment scams were true money manufacturers for scammers, FTC said in addition, with four out of five (79%) people who reported an investment scam that really lost money. The average loss was north of $ 9,000. Total investment scam losses reached $ 5.7 billion, an increase of $ 1 billion compared to last year.
Social networks continue to be an important risk factor, with seven out of ten people who were contacted by scammers on social platforms that lose money. It was said that total losses through these platforms reached $ 1.9 billion.
A particular scam format, false works, shot in the last half decade. Between 2020 and 2024, the reports almost tripled, and the losses fired from $ 90 million to $ 501 million.
Interestingly, the previous generation is no longer the one that loses more money. Those aged 20 to 29 reported having lost money more frequently than any other age group. However, the elderly (more than 70) suffered financial damage much worse than any other demographic group.
Through Bleepingcomputer
