Financial and Emotional Impact of Scams in the United States

Consumer fraud remains a significant threat to American households, resulting in an estimated $68bn in losses during 2025. According to data released by Gallup, approximately 10% of U.S. adults were either personally victimized by a scam or lived in a household where a scam occurred. This widespread issue carries both a substantial financial burden and a pervasive negative impact on the mental health and well-being of those affected.

Who is Most Vulnerable to Scams?

Research indicates that scam victimization does not affect all demographics equally. Gallup’s findings reveal that individuals from lower-income households face a higher risk of being targeted and suffering severe financial hardship. When examining educational background, adults without a bachelor’s degree reported being scammed at a rate of 7%, compared to 4% for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Racial disparities also emerged in the data. Hispanic (9%) and Black (8%) adults were more likely to report being victims of a scam than white adults (5%). Interestingly, the report noted that victimization rates remained consistent across different age groups, suggesting that scam attempts are not uniquely focused on a specific generation.

What is the Financial Cost of Fraud?

While many individual scams involve relatively small amounts of money—more than half of reported cases involved losses of $500 or less—the cumulative impact is profound. The average loss per scam reached $5,578, contributing to a staggering national total of $68bn stolen annually. This equates to an average of $186m lost to scams every single day in the United States.

For one in five victims, these losses translated into severe financial hardship. Households earning less than $80,000 annually were disproportionately represented among those struggling to recover from these financial setbacks.

How Do Scams Affect Mental Health?

Beyond the immediate monetary loss, the emotional consequences of fraud are widespread. Gallup reports that nearly three-quarters (73%) of victims stated that the experience negatively affected their mental health or overall well-being. Among those directly or indirectly affected, 28% described the impact as “very negative,” while 45% characterized it as “moderately negative.”

This emotional toll often manifests as a long-term change in behavior. Victims frequently become more cautious, reducing their online shopping activity and showing increased hesitation when engaging with unfamiliar businesses. The report highlights that this erosion of trust extends beyond personal finances, potentially weakening confidence in the broader systems and institutions that facilitate daily life.

Key Findings on Scam Prevalence

• Lifetime Exposure: Approximately 24% of U.S. adults report having been a victim of a scam at some point in their lives.
• Recurring Victimization: Among those who have been scammed, 10% report having fallen victim to fraud multiple times.
• Survey Methodology: These findings are based on a Gallup poll of 5,173 U.S. adults conducted between January and February 2026.

As scams continue to evolve, the data underscores a growing challenge for consumer protection. The combination of financial instability and the resulting decline in institutional trust suggests that the impact of fraud reaches far deeper than the initial transaction, affecting the daily decision-making processes of millions of Americans.