Last reviewed: 2026-03-16
Scams 2024 — FBI IC3 Annual Report: $16.6B in Losses
2024 was a record year for fraud. FBI IC3 received 859,532 complaints with $16.6B in total losses — up a third from 2023. Investment fraud (pig butchering) caused $6.57B in losses. Phishing/spoofing was #1 by complaint volume with 193,407 cases. Elder fraud reached $4.885B. Sextortion surged 59%. FTC 2024 Consumer Sentinel: $12.5B in total fraud losses.
2024 scam statistics
FBI IC3 total losses 2024
$16.6B
FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report
Investment fraud (pig butchering)
$6.57B
FBI IC3 2024 — #1 by losses
Elder fraud losses
$4.885B
FBI IC3 2024
FTC total fraud losses
$12.5B
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024
Phishing complaints
193,407
FBI IC3 2024 — #1 by volume
Sextortion surge
+59%
FBI IC3 2024 — 54,936 complaints
Key scam developments in 2024
FBI IC3 2024 — Investment fraud reaches $6.57B
Investment fraud (including pig butchering crypto scams) reached $6.57B in 2024 — the highest loss category. 41,557 IC3 complaints. FBI Recovery Asset Team achieved 66% success rate freezing fraudulent transactions.
Source: ic3.gov 2024 Annual Report
FBI IC3 2024 — Elder fraud $4.885B, 147,127 complaints
Adults 60+ filed 147,127 complaints with $4.885B in losses — up 46% from 2023. Gold bar courier scam: $219M losses, average $417,000 per victim.
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report
FTC 2024 — Job scam losses surge to $750.6M
Business and job opportunity fraud reached $750.6M — up nearly $250M from 2023. Dominant pattern: 'task scams' pay small initial amounts then steal deposits. Many pivot to crypto investment fraud.
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024
FBI IC3 2024 — Sextortion surges 59%
54,936 extortion/sextortion complaints in 2024 — 59% surge from 2023. $33.5M in losses. FBI confirms: the leaked password in the subject line comes from old data breaches, no recording exists.
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report
Active scam numbers and patterns in 2024
AI Voice Clone Scam (2025-2026)
PATTERN · ai-voice-clone · last active 2026-03
Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud (Pig Butchering)
PATTERN · crypto-investment · last active 2026-03
Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scam
PATTERN · bec-fraud · last active 2026-03
Gold Bar / Cash Courier Scam
PATTERN · government-impersonation · last active 2026-03
Cryptocurrency ATM Fraud
PATTERN · crypto-investment · last active 2026-03
(878) 877-1402
NUMBER · bank-impersonation · last active 2026-01
(202) 810-9204
NUMBER · irs-impersonation · last active 2026-03
(202) 379-1376
NUMBER · irs-impersonation · last active 2025-11
(469) 425-6031
NUMBER · social-security-impersonation · last active 2025-11
Area Code 876 Scam Calls
AREA-CODE · lottery-impersonation · last active 2026-03
Active scam email subjects in 2024
"New Client Inquiry" Spear Phishing Email (Tax Professionals)
New client inquiry — tax return assistance needed
Senior U.S. Official Impersonation Email/Text Scam
Message from [Senior Official Name] — urgent matter
"Alert: Social Security Account Issues Detected" Scam Email
Alert: Social Security Account Issues Detected
"Tax Refund Payment" Email Scam
Tax Refund Payment
"Action Required: Verify Your IRS Account" Email Scam
Action Required: Verify your IRS account
"Your Account Has Been Temporarily Suspended" Bank Email Scam
Your account has been temporarily suspended
Fake City Permit Fee Email Scam
Action required: outstanding fee for permit application #[number]
"Claim Benefits!" SSA Phishing Email
Claim Benefits!
Active scam domains in 2024
Official 2024 scam reports
People also search for
Frequently asked questions
What are the top scams in 2024?▼
2024 was a record year for fraud. FBI IC3 received 859,532 complaints with $16.6B in total losses — up a third from 2023. Investment fraud (pig butchering) caused $6.57B in losses. Phishing/spoofing was #1 by complaint volume with 193,407 cases. Elder fraud reached $4.885B. Sextortion surged 59%. FTC 2024 Consumer Sentinel: $12.5B in total fraud losses.
How much money did scammers steal in 2024?▼
FBI IC3 total losses 2024: $16.6B (FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report). Investment fraud (pig butchering): $6.57B (FBI IC3 2024 — #1 by losses). Elder fraud losses: $4.885B (FBI IC3 2024). FTC total fraud losses: $12.5B (FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024). Phishing complaints: 193,407 (FBI IC3 2024 — #1 by volume). Sextortion surge: +59% (FBI IC3 2024 — 54,936 complaints)
Where do I report a scam in 2024?▼
Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3 at ic3.gov, and the relevant agency (IRS phishing: [email protected]; SSA: oig.ssa.gov; bank fraud: CFPB consumerfinance.gov/complaint).
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