New National Survey to Measure Hidden Scale of American Scam Crisis
New research announced today will attempt to quantify what law enforcement and consumer advocates have long suspected: that scams represent a vastly underreported crisis affecting millions of Americans. A collaboration between research organization Gallup and the Stop Scams Alliance will establish the first comprehensive national baseline measuring how financial fraud impacts households across the United States.
The initiative comes as Gallup data reveals that 53% of U.S. adults now worry about being tricked into sending money or providing access to their financial accounts—second only to identity theft among crime-related concerns. This persistent anxiety, recorded consistently in 2023 and 2024 surveys, underscores how scams have become an increasingly prominent threat to American financial security despite receiving relatively little policy attention.
Background and Context
The scam epidemic has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with criminals developing increasingly sophisticated methods to target victims through digital channels. According to FBI reports, Americans lost approximately $10.3 billion to internet scams in 2022, yet experts believe the true figure could be substantially higher due to chronic underreporting.
Victims often fail to report scams due to embarrassment, the perception that authorities cannot help, or the belief that losses are too small to warrant investigation. This creates significant blind spots for policymakers attempting to understand and respond to the problem. Without accurate data, law enforcement resources cannot be effectively allocated, and prevention strategies remain based on incomplete understanding of the threat landscape.
Key Figures and Entities
The research initiative brings together expertise from Gallup, known for its public opinion research spanning more than nine decades, and Stop Scams Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on cross-sector approaches to fraud prevention. The collaboration has secured funding from major technology, telecommunications, and financial institutions including JPMorgan Chase, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, American Bankers Association Foundation, AT&T, and Meta, among others.
Ken Westbrook, founder of Stop Scams Alliance, emphasized that effective policy requires comprehensive data. "The results will give policymakers, law enforcement, and private sector partners the insights needed to defend the nation from large-scale global criminal operations targeting U.S. citizens," Westbrook stated in a press release announcing the collaboration.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
Scammers employ diverse tactics to defraud victims, including phishing emails, investment schemes, romance scams, and impersonation of government agencies or financial institutions. These crimes often operate across jurisdictions, creating enforcement challenges for domestic law enforcement agencies. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule and various state laws provide some regulatory framework, but scammers frequently adapt their methods to avoid detection and prosecution.
The new survey will examine how scammers most commonly reach potential victims, what factors influence reporting decisions, and which interventions might prove most effective. Researchers will also explore the broader social and psychological consequences beyond direct financial losses, including emotional trauma and erosion of trust in digital communications.
International Implications and Policy Response
American consumers face scams originating from criminal networks worldwide, necessitating international cooperation to effectively combat the problem. The research initiative aims to provide the evidence base needed for more coordinated prevention efforts across sectors and borders. With results expected in Spring 2026, the data will inform policymakers in finance, technology, telecommunications, and consumer protection about the full scope of the challenge.
As scams become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, the emphasis is shifting from post-fraud recovery toward prevention. This approach requires better understanding of scam mechanics and victim psychology, as well as improved information sharing between financial institutions, technology companies, and law enforcement agencies.
Sources
This report draws on data from Gallup public opinion surveys, FBI crime reports, Federal Trade Commission enforcement records, and announcements from the Stop Scams Alliance regarding their research collaboration with industry partners.
