Key facts
- Most Americans report daily scam attempts, with 3 in 10 losing money or personal information.
- Few scam victims report incidents to authorities, often due to a belief that it won't help recover losses.
- Older adults are more frequently targeted by daily scam attempts than younger demographics.
- Facebook and banking-related scams are among the most common methods reported.
- A majority of Americans feel the government is not doing enough to combat scams.
Most Americans are frequently targeted by scam attempts, with a significant portion losing money or personal information, according to new polling from AP-NORC and Gallup.
Despite the prevalence of scams, few victims report these incidents to the government or law enforcement. The surveys indicate that victims often do not report because they believe it will not help them recover their losses or they are unsure of the proper reporting channels. Many also feel that banks and social media companies should bear more responsibility for preventing and addressing scams.
Older adults are more likely to report receiving daily scam attempts compared to younger individuals. Common scam methods involve package shipments and banking, with social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp frequently used for outreach. Some scams involve account hacking or impersonation.
While nearly all Americans perceive scams as a threat, a large majority believe the government is not doing enough to combat them. When victims do report, they are more inclined to contact financial institutions than law enforcement agencies.