Fifteen point nine billion dollars. That is how much Americans reported losing to fraud in 2025, according to testimony the Federal Trade Commission gave Congress this spring. It is a number so large it is hard to picture, so picture this instead: it is the sum of a whole lot of ordinary people at kitchen tables, staring at a phone or a computer screen, realizing too late that the voice or the message on the other end was not who it claimed to be.
The numbers come from the FTC’s testimony before the Joint Economic Committee on March 25, 2026, which cited the agency’s Consumer Sentinel Network, the database where fraud reports are collected. Here is what the FTC told lawmakers about 2025.
What The FTC Reported
Consumers filed 3 million fraud reports in 2025, up from 2.6 million the year before. Reported losses reached $15.9 billion, up from more than $12 billion the prior year. So there were more reports, and each year the total dollar figure climbed too.
Two findings stand out for families like ours. First, imposter scams have been the most frequently reported type of fraud every year since 2020. In 2025 alone they drew more than 1 million reports and more than $3.5 billion in losses. Second, investment scams were the largest source of losses, at $7.9 billion.
One important note: these are reported losses. The FTC’s figures reflect the people who spoke up and filed a report. It is a count of those who came forward, which tells us the problem is big, and it is worth remembering that being embarrassed is the scammer’s best friend.
Why Imposter Scams Keep Winning
An imposter scam is exactly what it sounds like. Someone pretends to be a person or an organization you already trust, then asks for money or information. The disguise changes, but the trick underneath stays the same. The scammer borrows your trust so you stop asking questions.
That is why this type has stayed at the top of the reported list year after year. It does not require fancy technology. It requires a good story and a little pressure. A message that says something is wrong, something is urgent, and only you can fix it right now is built to make your heart race and your common sense go quiet.
If you have ever felt your stomach drop at an alarming text, you are not foolish. You are human. The people running these schemes count on that reaction, and they practice it all day long.
Know The Signs
You do not need to be an expert to spot the pattern. Here are the warning signs worth keeping on a sticky note by the phone.
- Urgency. If someone says you must act immediately, that is a reason to slow down, not speed up.
- Secrecy. A request to keep a payment or a conversation from your family or your bank is a red flag every time.
- Odd payment methods. Real businesses and real government agencies do not demand payment in gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
- Unexpected contact. If you did not start the conversation, be extra careful about what you share.
- Promises of big, easy returns. Since investment scams caused the largest losses in the FTC’s testimony, treat any pitch that guarantees quick profits with deep suspicion.
What To Do Instead
When a message or call makes you nervous, stop and hang up. Then look up the real phone number of the company or agency yourself, from a bill, a card in your wallet or the official website, and call that number. Do not use a number or link the message handed you.
Talk it over with someone. A spouse, a grown child, a neighbor or a friend can often spot what you are too rattled to see. Make it a family habit: if anyone gets a strange request involving money, they say it out loud to another person before doing anything.
If you already sent money or shared information, act quickly. Contact your bank or card company right away, and report what happened to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports are how the agency builds the picture it shared with Congress, and every one helps.
A Decluttering Mom Angle
Around here we talk a lot about simplifying, and this is a place where a little tidying pays off. Keep one folder, on paper or on your computer, with the real contact information for your bank, your card companies, your insurance and your doctor. When you can find the true number in ten seconds, a scammer’s fake one loses its power.
Also think about the paperwork and old mail piling up in a drawer. Statements and letters with account details are worth shredding once you no longer need them, so they do not sit around waiting to be misused.
The Bottom Line
Fifteen point nine billion dollars in reported losses is a sobering figure, and the FTC told Congress that imposter scams have led the list of reports since 2020. The good news is that the best defenses are free and simple: slow down, verify on your own, and talk to someone you trust. Share this with a parent, a grandparent or a friend who might get that next urgent call. A minute of caution can save a family a great deal of grief.
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