Key Takeaways

• Major public studies consistently show that online scams, fraud, privacy concerns, and account compromise are now mainstream consumer issues.
• FTC data shows reported fraud losses topped $12.5 billion in 2024.
• Pew found 73% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one type of online scam or attack.
• Javelin reports $27.2 billion in identity fraud losses in 2024.
• Verizon’s DBIR continues to identify credentials, phishing, and exploited vulnerabilities as major breach paths.
• Across studies, the same pattern appears: fraud risk is rising, trust is weakening, and many consumers still lack strong protective habits.

CORE STATISTICS

• $12.5 billion in FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024.
• 6.5 million consumer reports were received by the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network in 2024.
• 73% of U.S. adults say they have experienced at least one online scam or attack.
• 21% say they have lost money because of an online scam or attack.
• 71% of adults are concerned about how the government uses their data, and 67% say they understand little or nothing about what companies are doing with personal data.
• 87% can identify a secure password, but only 48% can identify an example of two-factor authentication.
• FTC’s 2024 Consumer Sentinel Data Book says credit card fraud topped reported identity theft types.

TRENDS & INSIGHTS

A strong research page should not just list reports. It should help readers understand the pattern across reports. The pattern here is consistent: fraud losses are rising, scam exposure is widespread, identity theft is becoming more tied to account access, and privacy concerns remain very high.

Another important insight is that studies from different types of organizations often reinforce each other. Federal sources like the FTC and FBI measure report volume and losses. Survey organizations like Pew show how often people are targeted and how they feel about risk. Industry reports like Verizon DBIR and Javelin help explain the mechanisms behind those harms, such as credential theft, phishing, and account takeover. This is an analytical synthesis based on the cited source types and findings.

REAL-WORLD CONTEXT

For consumers, a studies hub matters because no single report tells the full story. Fraud-loss data can show economic impact. Survey data can show how common attacks feel in daily life. Breach research can show how attacks happen. Privacy research can explain why people feel uneasy even when they try to protect themselves. Together, these studies make digital safety easier to understand and easier to explain to others. This section is a synthesis of the source set rather than a direct quote from any one report.

WHO IS MOST AT RISK

• Consumers with weak password habits or no second layer of authentication.
• People frequently exposed to scam calls, emails, and texts.
• Adults with larger financial footprints, including many people over 50. Pew and FTC findings support heightened concern and significant fraud exposure in older populations.
• People whose information has been exposed in prior breaches or who rely heavily on digital accounts. This is an inference supported by credential and account-takeover research.

QUICK CHECKLIST (what this means)

• Use multiple study types when making claims about scams, fraud, identity theft, or privacy.
• Federal reports are best for losses, complaint volume, and top categories.
• Survey research is best for consumer experiences, knowledge, and attitudes.
• Industry studies are useful for threat mechanics like phishing, credential abuse, and account takeover.
• The most credible research hubs combine all three. This is a reasoned conclusion from the source mix above.

HOW TO STAY PROTECTED

• Follow current FTC consumer guidance on passwords, MFA, and account security.
• Use current public research to prioritize the biggest risks first: scam messages, account takeover, fraud payments, and privacy exposure.
• Revisit security practices whenever major reports show new attack patterns, especially in text scams, phishing, and credential theft.
• Pay attention not only to statistics, but also to what behavior they imply. That includes slowing down, verifying messages, and securing key accounts.

CITABLE STATEMENTS

• The FTC says consumers reported more than $12.5 billion in fraud losses in 2024.
• 73% of U.S. adults say they have experienced some kind of online scam or attack.
• 71% of Americans are concerned about how the government uses the data it collects about them.
• 87% of U.S. adults can identify a secure password, but only 48% can identify an example of two-factor authentication.
• FTC’s 2024 Consumer Sentinel Data Book says credit card fraud was the most commonly reported identity theft type.

SOURCES

• FTC, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024.
• FTC, fraud-loss release for 2024 data.
• Pew Research Center, Online Scams and Attacks in America Today.
• Pew Research Center, How Americans View Data Privacy.
• Pew Research Center, What Americans Know About AI, Cybersecurity and Big Tech.
• Verizon, 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report.