The digital landscape is a minefield of scams and attacks, and a recent report from the Pew Research Center, highlights just how widespread this issue has become in the U.S. The report, titled “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” reveals that a staggering 73% of U.S. adults have been a victim of some form of online fraud.
Key findings from the report
The survey, which polled 9,397 adults from April 14-20, 2025, paints a sobering picture of a nation under constant digital siege. The most common forms of attack include:
- Fraudulent credit/debit card charges: Nearly half of U.S. adults (48%) have had hackers make fraudulent charges on their cards.
- Online shopping scams: Over a third of adults (36%) have purchased an item online that either never arrived or was counterfeit, and they were not refunded.
- Personal account hacking: Close to a third of Americans (29%) have had a personal online account, such as an email, social media, or bank account, hacked.
As a result, 21% of U.S. adults say they have lost money because of online scams or attacks, with 30% reporting that it hurt their personal finances “a great deal” or “a fair amount.” And, this may be understating the losses since only 26% of those who lost money ever reported the incident to law enforcement.
These attacks aren’t just one-off incidents. The report indicates that a majority of Americans receive scam calls, texts, and emails on at least a weekly basis. For many, it’s a daily reality: 31% receive daily scam phone calls, and 28% get scam emails every day.
Who is most vulnerable?
While online scams affect people across all demographics, the report uncovered some key disparities. Contrary to popular belief that only older adults are susceptible, the survey found that significant portions of both older and younger adults have been targeted. However, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults were more likely than white adults to have experienced multiple types of fraud.
Public perception of the response
The public’s frustration with the situation is clear. A vast majority of Americans view online scams as a national problem, with 79% calling it a “major problem.” There is also a great deal of dissatisfaction with the efforts being made to combat it. A significant portion of the public believes the federal government (68%) and technology companies (56%) are doing a “bad job” at reducing these scams and attacks.
While more can be done by the federal government and the tech industry to protect the public and their data from fraud, there are steps you can take now to protect yourself and your family from cybercriminals. To learn more, please read my posts on how to protect yourself from cybercrime.
It Pays to Know!