WASHINGTON – Ever feel like you’re constantly dodging scam attempts? You’re not alone. A recent survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 30% of Americans have either lost money or personal information to scams. This highlights a serious issue we all face: identifying genuine communications from fraudsters.
In February, the AP-NORC poll revealed the daily struggles of U.S. adults as they sift through suspicious calls, messages, and emails, all while trying to figure out if that urgent alert from their cellphone provider is real or a scam.
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Another survey by Gallup, in partnership with the Stop Scams Alliance, found that last year, about 10% of U.S. adults were tricked into losing money or granting access to their financial accounts. Alarmingly, nearly half of those affected reported losses exceeding $500.
Many victims feel powerless, often not reporting scams to authorities. According to Gallup, the main reason is skepticism; many believe reporting won’t lead to recovering their lost money.
Adam Pratter, 42, shared his experiences with scams on dating apps. He once sent money to someone who claimed they needed help while deployed overseas. He realized it was a scam when the pleas for money kept coming.
He believes financial institutions and social media platforms have a responsibility to assist scam victims, and he thinks the government could also intervene to help recover lost funds.
The frequency of scam attempts is staggering. More than half (58%) of adults surveyed by AP-NORC reported receiving suspicious communications daily, while Gallup found that roughly 40% face attempted scams every day.
Porschel Smith, 22, experiences multiple scam calls and emails every day. Some scams are obvious, but others catch her off guard. “Some of them hack your account and pretend as if they’re someone that you know,” she explained.
Interestingly, older adults are more likely to report daily scam attempts. Approximately 70% of individuals aged 60 and above receive suspicious contacts daily, compared to about 40% of those under 30.
The most common scams involve package shipments or banking issues. About 40% of respondents reported being contacted through Facebook or Messenger, while 20% mentioned WhatsApp or Instagram.
The impact of scams is extensive. According to the AP-NORC poll, 51% of U.S. adults know someone who has lost money to a scam, and 30% admitted to being scammed themselves.
The Gallup survey noted that 10% of adults or their household members fell victim to scams last year, with 6% reporting personal experiences. Victims often lose between $125 and $2,000.
Towonna Harris, 50, recounted how scammers tricked her son with a phony tuition offer that escalated into unauthorized credit card charges. She has also faced scams when ordering items online, only to realize later that the company was a fraud.
Despite a widespread belief that scams pose a serious threat, many Americans feel the government isn’t doing enough to combat them. About 80% of respondents in the Gallup survey felt the government is doing too little to prevent scams.
When it comes to reporting scams, victims typically turn to their banks rather than law enforcement. The Gallup poll found that 55% of scam victims contacted their financial institutions, while only 18% reached out to local law enforcement.
Many victims don’t report scams, believing it won’t help. About 75% of those scammed in 2025 thought reporting wouldn’t yield results, and 58% were unsure where to report.
When asked if they would know how to report a scam, most Americans expressed low confidence. While 55% felt sure they could report to banks or credit card companies, only about a quarter felt similarly about federal or state law enforcement.
Max Anderson, 23, shared a story about how his parents, small business owners, fell victim to a scam that cost them $15,000. The scammer impersonated an employee and changed direct deposit information over three months. Thankfully, his father received help from the FBI.
“It’s a big enough problem at this point that it falls to the government and companies to do something about it,” Max stated.
