Year-Over-Year Fraud Loss Trend (2021–2024)
The multi-year trend in reported consumer fraud losses in the United States, based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network annual reports.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Reported consumer fraud losses in the United States have risen sharply every year since 2020. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Books provide a consistent annual series, making them the most reliable public measure of this trend.
All figures are US consumer reports only and represent a fraction of true fraud — most incidents are never reported. Year-to-year increases can reflect both rising fraud and improved reporting awareness.
Key figures
More than $5.8 billion
Reported consumer fraud losses (US, 2021)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2021 (2021)
Nearly $8.8 billion
Reported consumer fraud losses (US, 2022)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2022 (2022)
More than $10 billion — first time the figure exceeded $10 billion
Reported consumer fraud losses (US, 2023)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023 (2023)
More than $12.5 billion — a 25% increase on 2023
Reported consumer fraud losses (US, 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
38% of reporters in 2024 said they lost money, up from 27% in 2023
Share of reporters who said they lost money (FTC, 2024 vs 2023)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
Key takeaways
- Reported US fraud losses roughly doubled between 2021 and 2024, rising from $5.8 billion to $12.5 billion.
- 2023 was the first year reported losses exceeded $10 billion; 2024 pushed that to $12.5 billion.
- The 2024 increase was not driven by more reports — complaint volume held steady — but by a higher share of reporters losing money (38% vs 27% in 2023).
- All figures represent only reported cases; the FTC consistently notes that most fraud is never reported.
Frequently asked questions
Do rising fraud figures mean scams are getting worse, or just better reported?
Likely both. FTC research shows that actual reporting rates remain low, so a big jump in reported losses can reflect a real increase in scam activity or greater consumer awareness of where to report. The 2024 data specifically shows that more reporters said they lost money, not simply that there were more reporters — which suggests real losses are increasing.