Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more
- Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in losses to scams in the latest year, a 25% increase from the previous year, with FTC estimates suggesting actual losses could reach $200 billion.
- An AP and FRONTLINE investigation found that 98% of Americans suspect they have been targeted by scammers, and 3 in 10 have personally lost money or information to scams.
- Victims often face additional financial hardship beyond the initial scam, including bank pressure, tax obligations on lost funds, and sometimes encounter secondary scams while seeking help from authorities.
- The surge in scams is fueled by advances in artificial intelligence enabling scammers to operate at unprecedented scale and sophistication, and cryptocurrency usage that makes funds difficult to trace.
- Despite some scams being traceable through leaked documents and crypto wallet addresses, victims report little assistance from local police and FBI, with some told to accept their losses.
The United States is experiencing a record surge in scam losses, with Americans reporting $15.9 billion in documented losses to the Federal Trade Commission, representing a 25% year-over-year increase. The FTC estimates actual losses could reach approximately $200 billion annually, equivalent to $550 million daily. An AP and FRONTLINE investigation found that 98% of Americans suspect they have been targeted by scammers, with roughly 30% having personally lost money or information.
Victims face compounding hardships beyond the initial fraud. According to interviews with 58 scam victims, many experience ridicule from family and friends, mounting pressure from banks and lenders, unexpected tax obligations on withdrawn funds, and dismissive responses from law enforcement. Some victims encounter secondary scams while attempting to recover losses through official channels. The investigation traced one romance scam involving $800,000 in losses to a compound in Myanmar, yet the victim received no assistance from local police or the FBI despite reporting the crime.
The proliferation of scams is driven by artificial intelligence enabling scammers to operate at unprecedented scale and sophistication, combined with cryptocurrency's difficulty to trace. While some scams can be tracked through leaked documents and crypto wallet analysis, regulatory gaps and limited international cooperation hinder victim recovery. Both the Trump administration and Congress are pursuing new measures, but victims currently have minimal recourse, and many scam operations simply relocate after being disrupted rather than being permanently shut down.
美国诈骗案创历史新高 受害者难获救济 有人反而损失更多
美国诈骗案损失创历史新高，美国人向联邦贸易委员会报告的诈骗损失达159亿美元，同比增长25%。联邦贸易委员会估计实际损失可能达2000亿美元，相当于每日5.5亿美元。美联社和FRONTLINE调查发现，98%的美国人怀疑自己成为诈骗目标，约30%曾亲身损失金钱或信息。
受害者面临初始诈骗之外的多重困境。对58名诈骗受害者的采访显示，许多人遭受家人朋友的嘲笑、银行和贷款机构的追债压力、提取资金的意外税务负担，以及执法部门的冷漠态度。部分受害者在试图通过官方渠道追回损失时遭遇二次诈骗。调查追踪到一起涉及80万美元损失的浪漫诈骗案源于缅甸一个诈骗窝点，但受害者未获得当地警方或联邦调查局的任何帮助，尽管已报案。
诈骗激增由人工智能推动，使诈骗分子能以前所未有的规模和复杂度运作，加之加密货币难以追踪。虽然某些诈骗可通过泄露文件和加密钱包分析追踪，但监管漏洞和国际合作不足阻碍了受害者追回资金。特朗普政府和国会正在推行新措施，但受害者目前救济途径有限，许多诈骗操作在被破获后只是转移地点而非被永久关闭。