Scams

Most Americans take steps to avoid scams but nearly 40% still lost money anyway

Tonya Costoff Medeiros

09 Apr 2026 — 1 min read

A whopping 73% of Americans say they have been targeted by a scam and are now taking steps to protect themselves. ©Image Credit: Unsplash / rupixen

Whether you've been a victim of a scam or not, there's a good chance you've seen them going around. Unfortunately, knowing they exist hasn't helped almost 40% of Americans who still lost money through a scam.

Despite the spotlight that money-related scams and frauds have been getting, they are on the rise. A survey released by Bankrate shows that financial fraud affected 34% of Americans in 2024 and almost 40% in 2025.

Also alarming is the number of people who have said they've been involved in a scam before. That number sits at a whopping 73%.

It's becoming rare for people not to be targeted by a scam nowadays.

AI is making fraud easier

There are many factors feeding the rise in financial scams, but experts say much of the blame is on AI. The AI tech makes it harder and harder for everyday people to spot a scam.

AI fraud can look and sound incredibly authentic.

"It's never been easier to commit fraud," said Mason Wilder, a research director at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Wilder went on to explain that AI can clone voices, create phishing emails, and even make realistic fake videos. It's not just seniors falling for scams; it's tech-savvy younger people, too.

No one is immune these days.

Americans are on high alert

These types of scams are so common that now 52% of people say they are on high alert and expect to be targeted. This is making them ultra-vigilant.

The vast majority of people are taking extra precautions to try to protect themselves from financial scams. Two-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links, and checking on accounts are the tools being used.

Assume risks exist

Your best line of defense is to stay alert and assume risks exist everywhere. If something seems off or unusual, you're wise to listen to your gut.

Sources: app., Yahoo!Finance, Bankrate

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Money-related scams are on the rise