Here is a number that should make every one of us sit up straight: $15.9 billion. That is how much the Federal Trade Commission says people reported losing to fraud in 2025, a record. And according to the FBI, people 60 and older were hit especially hard.
The details come from AARP, which reported on the new FTC and FBI figures on April 16, 2026. They are sobering, and they are worth understanding, because knowing how scams work is the best protection there is.
The Numbers
The FTC’s total of $15.9 billion in fraud losses for 2025 is up from $12.5 billion in 2024. Those losses came from about 3 million complaints. People 50 and older reported losing $4.3 billion, according to the FTC.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, tells a similar story. It said people 60 and older reported $7.7 billion lost, roughly a 60 percent increase from 2024. Across everyone, the FBI’s total came to about $20.9 billion.
The FBI’s list of top categories included cryptocurrency fraud at $11.3 billion, investment scams at $8.6 billion, and tech and customer support scams at $2.1 billion.
It is also important to remember what AARP points out: fraud is underreported. Many people never tell anyone, often out of embarrassment. That means the real picture is likely even bigger than these totals suggest.
It is worth pausing on how big these numbers are. A record year, with losses climbing from $12.5 billion to $15.9 billion in a single year by the FTC’s count, means scammers are finding what works and doing more of it. Behind every dollar figure is a real person, and many of them did everything they thought was right.
Why These Scams Work
Scammers are not careless, and they are not always strangers who sound suspicious. They are patient and practiced, and they know which buttons to push. Most of them rely on a few tricks: urgency, secrecy and trust.
Urgency means you are told you must act right now, before you have time to think. Secrecy means you are told not to tell your bank, your family or anyone else. Trust means the person pretends to be someone you would normally believe, such as a tech support worker, a bank employee or a helpful investment adviser.
Two of the categories in the FBI’s list deserve a closer look. Tech and customer support scams often begin with a pop-up warning or a phone call claiming something is wrong with your computer or account. Investment scams, including cryptocurrency schemes, promise returns that sound wonderful and often start with a friendly online contact. Both depend on the same thing: persuading you to hand over money or access before you stop to check.
How to Protect Yourself
- Slow down. Anyone who insists you must decide this minute is a red flag all by itself. A real company or agency will give you time.
- Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency because someone told you to. Legitimate businesses and government offices do not demand payment in those ways.
- Do not click links or call numbers in unexpected messages. Look up the real phone number of your bank or the company yourself and call that instead.
- Be wary of promised returns. If an investment sounds guaranteed or too good to be true, treat it as a warning, and talk it over with someone you trust before sending a dime.
- Do not let strangers take control of your computer. A tech support worker who calls you out of the blue is not someone to trust.
- Talk to someone. Tell a family member, a friend or your bank before you act on anything that feels pressured. Scammers depend on you keeping quiet.
If You Think You Have Been Scammed
First, please do not be ashamed. These criminals fool smart, careful people every day. The most useful thing you can do is act quickly. Contact your bank or card company right away to tell them what happened, and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
Then report it. You can file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Reporting helps investigators spot patterns, and, given that fraud is underreported, every report adds to the picture.
It is also a good idea to tell friends and family what happened. Scammers often target the same person again, and sharing your story may help someone close to you avoid the same trap.
The Bottom Line
A record year for fraud losses, with older Americans reporting billions of dollars in losses to the FBI, is a reminder that this is a real and growing problem, not something that only happens to other people. The good news is that the best defenses cost nothing: pause, verify, and talk to someone you trust before any money moves.
Share these numbers with the people you love, especially anyone who lives alone or who is not comfortable with technology. A short, friendly conversation could keep a lifetime of savings safe.
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