F-Secure’s third annual report finds scams now reach 56% of consumers monthly, with financial losses doubling and nearly 40 million U.S. victims in the past year
LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scammers targeted more than half of all consumers in 2025, and financial losses are surging. New research from F-Secure shows victims are now losing money at more than double the rate of a year ago. The global consumer cyber security leader just released its third annual Scam Intelligence & Impacts Report, showing how the scam economy is evolving to take more money from more people, faster than ever, with nearly 40 million victims in the U.S. this year alone.
The numbers are stark. While scam exposure has held steady, with 56% of consumers encountering attempts at least monthly, the financial damage has doubled. 52% of victims now lose money, more than twice the figure from 2025….
Investment fraud targets the human desire for financial growth by promising high returns with “low to no risk.”
- Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, these schemes pay “returns” to earlier investors using the capital brought in by newer investors. There is no actual underlying business; the system collapses when new recruitment slows down.
- Pyramid Schemes: Similar to Ponzi schemes, but participants are usually required to sell a product or service. The primary “profit” comes from the recruitment fees of new members rather than actual product sales.
- Pump and Dump: Fraudsters spread false, positive rumors about a cheap stock (the “pump”) to drive up the price. Once the price peaks, they sell their shares (the “dump”), leaving other investors with worthless stock.