US FTC reveals record losses from imposter scams in 2025
Imposter scams were the most reported fraud category in the United States last year.
The US Federal Trade Commission said consumers reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, nearly tripling from 2020.
The FTC said imposter scams were the most reported fraud category last year, accounting for nearly one in three fraud reports. Consumers were targeted through text messages, phone calls, email, social media, search engine results and other channels.
Some of the costliest scams began with fake security alerts that often appeared to come from banks. Victims were persuaded to move money to ‘protect’ it, with losses often limited only by the funds they had available.
Consumers reported losing nearly $1 billion to business impersonators in 2025, with the highest losses linked to bank impersonators. Reported losses to government impersonators reached about $920 million, up from $789 million in 2024.
The figures form part of a wider rise in reported fraud losses. The FTC said consumers reported losing about $16 billion to all types of fraud in 2025, the highest figure on record and around 25% higher than in 2024.
The data were released as the FTC, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services and members of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council launched the Never Ever campaign. The public-private campaign aims to raise awareness of government and business imposter scams, including scams affecting older adults.
The FTC also pointed to its 2024 Impersonation Rule, which gives the agency stronger tools to pursue scammers impersonating government agencies and businesses. Since the rule was finalised, the FTC said it has brought a dozen enforcement actions and obtained more than $70 million in redress for consumers.
Why does it matter?
Imposter scams exploit trust in digital communications, financial institutions and government services. Fake bank alerts, official-looking messages and multi-channel fraud campaigns can push consumers to act quickly and transfer money before they verify the request. The FTC’s response shows how consumer protection is increasingly combining fraud data, enforcement tools and public education to address digital trust risks.
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