Report: Americans Lose an Estimated $148 Billion to Scams Each Year
KnowBe4, Friday, August 21st, 2026
A Consumer Federation of America report puts annual US online scam losses at $148 billion, over seven times reported figures.
KnowBe4 covers a Consumer Federation of America report estimating that Americans lose about $148 billion each year to online scams.
That is a 22% increase compared with 2024 and more than seven times the figure captured in official reported losses. The gap reflects how few victims report, particularly for smaller amounts and for scams carrying social stigma.
The report attributes growth to AI-assisted fraud and cryptocurrency-based schemes. The post compares the estimate against FBI reporting data.