Identity Theft & Scams Outnumber All FBI Crimes

If you feel like you’re constantly dodging suspicious emails, texts, and phone calls, you’re not alone. New data from a Gallup study reveals a startling reality: the number of Americans victimized by identity theft and scams each year is at least double the total number of violent and property crimes reported by the FBI. This hidden crime wave is not just an annoyance; it’s a pervasive threat that erodes trust in our digital lives and inflicts serious financial and emotional harm on millions.

The Staggering Scale of Scams

The numbers paint a clear picture of a problem that has reached epidemic levels. According to Gallup, an estimated 15.1 million U.S. adults (or 6% of the population) were personally scammed out of money in 2025. To put that in perspective, the FBI’s last full report documented roughly 7.2 million violent and property crimes combined.

This isn't a rare occurrence. The threat is constant and relentless for many.

• A staggering 41% of Americans report being contacted by a potential scammer on a daily basis.
• About one in four Americans (24%) have been successfully scammed at some point in their adult lives.

These relentless attempts, ranging from phishing emails to sophisticated imposter scams, have become an unfortunate part of modern life.

Financial and Emotional Fallout

The consequences of these scams extend far beyond a stolen password or a fraudulent charge. The collective financial toll is immense, costing U.S. adults an estimated $68 billion in 2025 alone.

For individual households, the impact can be devastating.

• Nearly half (46%) of scammed households experienced moderate to severe financial hardship as a result of the fraud.
• The burden falls heaviest on those who can least afford it. Among lower-income households, 58% reported that a scam created a significant financial hardship.

The damage isn't just financial. The violation of trust and personal security takes a significant emotional toll. Nearly 75% of victims said the experience had a negative impact on their mental health and overall wellbeing, leading to stress, anxiety, and a lasting sense of vulnerability.

A Shifting Criminal Landscape

This explosion in scams signals a fundamental change in criminal behavior. As detailed in the report Safer, Smarter, Richer, criminals are increasingly moving from street crime to screens, where the potential profits are higher and the risk of getting caught is lower. These perpetrators range from sophisticated international crime rings to domestic fraudsters.

The most common gateways for these scams are everyday activities: online purchases, phone calls, and social media interactions. This trend also complicates our understanding of national crime statistics, fueling arguments that while some traditional property crime categories may appear to be decreasing, crime is simply migrating to the digital world on a massive scale.

Underreporting and Public Perception

One of the biggest challenges in fighting this crime wave is a lack of comprehensive data. While 79% of scam victims say they told someone about the incident—often a bank or credit card company—only 13% reported it to federal law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This massive underreporting to official channels leaves government agencies with an incomplete picture of the problem's true scope.

Despite the reporting gap, the public is keenly aware of the danger.

• An overwhelming 98% of adults believe scams are a threat, with two-thirds calling the threat "major."
• A vast majority (82%) of Americans think the government is doing too little to prevent scams and protect consumers.

What You Can Do: Prevention and Reporting

The data confirms that crime is not receding but shifting to digital platforms, making proactive defense more critical than ever. Learning to recognize the red flags of common scams and knowing how to respond is your first line of defense. If you become a victim, reporting the crime is a crucial step toward recovery and helping authorities fight back.

For more information on how to prevent identity theft and where to report identity theft or other scams, use the official resources below.

Key Resources for Prevention and Reporting

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Visit IdentityTheft.gov to get a personalized recovery plan if you've been a victim of identity theft.
• Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC): The ITRC is a non-profit organization that provides free, one-on-one assistance to victims.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Report cyber-enabled financial fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Credit Reports: You are entitled to free copies of your credit reports from all three major bureaus. Access them safely at the official site, AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Bank Accounts: To prevent fraudsters from opening new checking or savings accounts in your name, consider placing a security freeze on your file with ChexSystems, the consumer reporting agency used by over 80% of U.S. banks.