Scams Continue to Plague Americans

WASHINGTON — A significant number of Americans encounter scam attempts regularly, with nearly 30% reporting that they’ve lost money or personal information due to scams, according to a recent survey by AP-NORC.

The poll, conducted in February, sheds light on the daily challenges U.S. adults face while sifting through calls and messages, trying to ascertain the legitimacy of seemingly urgent requests from their service providers.

Another survey by Gallup, in collaboration with the Stop Scams Alliance, revealed that about 10% of U.S. adults were deceived by scams last year, with many claiming losses exceeding $500.

This constant threat leaves people feeling vulnerable, often without clear avenues for recourse. Many victims, as both surveys show, choose not to report scams to authorities, primarily because they lack faith in getting their money back.

“You really need to be on your guard these days,” shared Adam Pratter, 42, who has encountered issues on dating apps. He once sent money to someone pretending to be in need due to military deployment, only to realize it was a scam when the requests persisted.

Pratter believes banks and tech companies should do more to support scam victims and suggests that government intervention could be beneficial. “If they wanted to, they could negotiate with these companies to help recover losses,” he stated.

Scam Attempts are Ubiquitous

According to both surveys, scams are a near-constant presence for Americans. Over half of the respondents in the AP-NORC survey reported receiving suspicious texts, calls, and emails daily, while Gallup noted that nearly 40% faced daily scam attempts last year.

Porschel Smith, 22, receives numerous scam calls and emails each day; some scams she easily identifies. “They talk about programs that aren’t even real,” she commented.

However, she sometimes engages with scammers before realizing the issue. “They can hack your account and pretend to be someone you know,” she recounted, adding that deeper questioning usually reveals the scam.

Older adults seem to be more frequent targets, with about 70% of those 60 and older reporting daily scam interactions, compared to around 40% of those under 30.

Shipping and banking scams are particularly common, with many individuals reporting experiences through platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.

Many Adults Claim to Have Been Scammed

The repercussions of scams extend broadly. The AP-NORC poll indicated that 51% of U.S. adults know someone who has lost money to a scam, while about 30% have personally experienced it themselves.

According to Gallup, around 10% of U.S. adults said they or someone in their household fell victim to scams last year, with reports of losses ranging between $125 and $2,000.

Interestingly, about 10% have been scammed multiple times, highlighting the persistence of these issues.

“It’s tricky; they know their game well,” remarked Towonna Harris, 50, recalling how her son fell victim to a scam promising tuition money through a fake credit card charge. She has faced smaller scams herself, such as ordering items that never arrived after realizing the company was a scam.

Reporting Scams is Rare

Most Americans recognize scams as a significant threat, yet many feel that the government isn’t doing enough to tackle the problem. According to the Gallup survey, approximately 80% believe that the government is falling short in scam prevention efforts, a sentiment shared across political lines.

When scammed, individuals are more likely to contact financial institutions rather than police or government authorities. The Gallup poll found that about 55% of victims reported incidents to banks, while only 18% reached out to local law enforcement.

A large portion of people opted not to report scams because they feel it wouldn’t help, with 75% of victims indicating they doubted they would recover their losses.

Importantly, confidence in knowing how to report scams is low. The AP-NORC poll revealed that while 55% of respondents felt confident reporting to banks or credit card companies, only a quarter felt similarly regarding government agencies.

Max Anderson, 23, shared that his parents, small business owners, fell victim to a complex scam that resulted in a loss of $15,000 due to an impersonation. After seeking assistance from the FBI, he expressed appreciation for the support, stating, “The government should be involved; it’s a substantial problem.”