Fraud is costing $$$
The FTC report states that people lost $10 billion to scams in 2023. That's $1 billion more than 2022 and the highest ever in reported losses to the FTC.
IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government's one-stop resource for identity theft victims. People can use IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and get a step-by-step personal recovery plan. The site will also create an Identity Theft Report victims can use to clear their credit files of fraudulent information resulting from the identity theft. IdentityTheft.gov has detailed advice for more than 30 types of identity theft and is also available in Spanish. When people use IdentityTheft.gov, their report becomes part of the Consumer Sentinel Network database and is available to the Network’s law enforcement members.
Fraud report categories
Imposter scams: Someone pretends to be a trusted person to get consumers to send money or give personal information. Examples include the following: scammers posing as a government agency, a friend or relative with an emergency need for money, a romantic interest, a computer technician offering technical support, or a charity or company. This category also includes grant, property tracer, or refund scams where the scammer is allegedly a government employee.
Online shopping and negative reviews: Undisclosed costs, failure to deliver on time, non-delivery, and refusal to honor a guarantee on purchases made online; internet auctions; businesses trying to prevent people from giving honest reviews about products or services they purchased.
Internet services: Problems with website content, including websites that offer content for a fee or advertise products and services; difficulty canceling an ISP or online account; issues with online payment services, social networking services, internet gaming, and virtual reality; undisclosed charges; website design and promotion services; and problems with broadband internet services and content, including the truthfulness of cost, access, and speed disclosures.
Investment related: Investment opportunities in day trading; gold and gems; art; rare coins; other investment products; reports about companies that offer advice or seminars on investments; etc.
Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries: Promotions for "free" prizes for a fee; foreign lotteries and sweepstakes offered through the phone, fax, e-mail or mail; etc.