Online scams are now so widespread that they’ve touched nearly three out of four Americans. According to a new Pew Research Center survey of 9,397 U.S. adults, 73% have experienced some type of online scam or attack — a clear sign that digital fraud has become a defining threat of our time.
And the trend is only getting worse. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported $16.6 billion in losses in 2024, the highest total ever recorded. From fraudulent purchases to hacked accounts, Americans across all age groups are being targeted — often multiple times.
Online Scams Are Now a National Concern
Pew found that more than nine in ten Americans see online scams and cyberattacks as a national problem, and 79% describe them as a major problem. The issue crosses demographic lines, affecting younger and older adults alike — even though many still assume older generations are the primary targets.
Most Common Scams Affecting Americans
The survey identified six types of online scams, with many people experiencing more than one. The most common include:
- 48% had fraudulent charges made to their credit or debit card
- 36% purchased a fake or undelivered product that was never refunded
- 29% had an online account hacked
- 24% gave away personal information after receiving a scam message
- 10% were locked out of their computer by ransomware until they paid a fee
- 7% lost money to fake investment schemes
Nearly 22% of adults said they’ve experienced two or more of these scam types. Meanwhile, scam communications are constant. Pew found that nearly everyone receives suspicious calls, texts, or emails at least weekly — sometimes daily.
Understanding Today’s Most Common Scams
Cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, often exploiting fear, urgency, or curiosity. Some of the most common methods include:
- Phishing: Fraudulent emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate companies, designed to trick recipients into revealing personal or financial information or clicking malicious links.
- Smishing: A form of phishing delivered via text message (“SMS phishing”), often claiming there’s a problem with a delivery, account, or subscription to prompt an immediate response.
- Vishing: Voice-based scams in which criminals call victims pretending to represent banks, government agencies, or tech support, persuading them to share sensitive details or make payments.
- Fake Online Shopping Sites: Fraudsters create convincing e-commerce stores or marketplace listings to sell products that never arrive—or send counterfeit goods.
- Investment Scams: Scammers promote fake investment opportunities in real estate, cryptocurrency, or stocks, promising high returns that never materialize.
- Ransomware: Malicious software that locks users out of their files or devices until a ransom is paid, often in cryptocurrency.
These scams share one common goal: to harvest personally identifiable information (PII) that can later be sold, reused, or exploited for identity theft and financial fraud.
Protecting Businesses from a Rising Threat
As digital fraud continues to surge, organizations are facing new challenges in safeguarding both their customers and their own data. A single breach or leaked credential can compromise sensitive systems, erode trust, and cause costly downtime.
That’s why proactive identity theft protection is essential. Enfortra helps businesses defend against emerging fraud threats by monitoring, detecting, and mitigating identity-related risks before they cause damage. Through advanced analytics and real-time alerts, Enfortra enables organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and protect their brand reputation.
Partner with Enfortra for Best-in-Class Protection
Enfortra delivers best-in-class, white-label identity theft protection solutions designed for customers, members, and employees. We power identity theft protection programs for businesses, associations, churches, and more, helping organizations safeguard their communities while creating new, non-incremental revenue streams.
Our platform offers the broadest suite of identity protection tools available anywhere — including Identity Protection, Credit Monitoring & Reports, Restoration & Recovery Services, Sex Offender Registry data, and Breach Detection — all through an easy-to-configure solution and a best-in-class mobile app.
For partners seeking deeper integration, Enfortra also provides API-based access to all services, enabling full customization and seamless alignment with your existing offerings.
