Top Scams Targeting Americans in 2026, According to the FTC

During National Consumer Protection Week in March 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar that laid out the most prevalent scams hitting consumers. The data comes from the agency’s Consumer Sentinel Network, which collects millions of fraud reports each year. While the webinar was held several months ago, the trends it highlighted remain active. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just trying to protect your savings, this summary of the top schemes and the steps you can take should help.

What Happened

The FTC, in partnership with ACA International, presented the latest scam trends during a March 2026 webinar. The session broke down the types of fraud that consumers reported most frequently and at the highest financial losses. Three categories stood out:

1. Impersonation scams. This includes callers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or a well-known tech company. Another variation that spiked in 2025–2026 is the “family emergency” call, where someone uses a stolen voice or simple social engineering to claim a relative is in trouble and needs money immediately. According to FTC complaint data, impersonation scams accounted for the largest share of reports across all age groups.

2. Investment and cryptocurrency fraud. Fake trading platforms and “get rich quick” crypto offers are still causing the biggest dollar losses per victim. Many involve a supposed investment advisor who builds trust over weeks before convincing the target to transfer funds into a phony wallet or account. Losses in this category often run in the tens of thousands, making it the most financially damaging scam type.

3. Online shopping and fake marketplace scams. Scammers set up convincing storefronts on social media or impersonate legitimate retailers. Victims pay for items that never arrive, or they receive cheap counterfeits. The FTC noted that these scams are especially common around holidays but persist year-round.

Emerging Threat: AI-Powered Scams

The webinar also highlighted a newer trend: fraudsters using generative AI to clone voices and create convincing phishing emails. Voice cloning allows a scammer to mimic a family member or boss, making the “emergency” call more believable. AI-generated phishing messages are harder to spot because they lack the obvious grammar errors of older scams. The FTC advised that these attacks are on the rise, though they still account for a smaller share of total complaints than the classic schemes above.

Why It Matters

Scams evolve quickly, but the patterns remain consistent. The FTC’s data shows that anyone can be a target—young adults are more likely to fall for online shopping fraud, while older consumers are disproportionately hit by investment and impersonation scams. Understanding the current playbook helps you recognize red flags before you lose money. The financial impact is not just individual; widespread fraud undermines trust in digital communication and commerce.

What Readers Can Do

Here are practical steps, based on the FTC’s webinar and its ongoing consumer education materials:

  • Hang up and verify. If someone calls claiming to be from a government agency or a relative in distress, end the call. Then call the agency or the relative using a number you know is real. Do not use a number the caller gives you.
  • Slow down on payments. Scammers pressure you to act fast. Any request for payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency is a near-certain sign of fraud. Legitimate businesses and government agencies never demand those forms of payment.
  • Check the website carefully. Before buying from a new online store, search for reviews with the word “scam.” Look at the URL for misspellings or odd domain extensions. If the prices seem too good to be true, they are.
  • Be skeptical of AI-generated messages. Even if a voicemail or video sounds exactly like someone you know, confirm through a separate channel. Some scammers now use short audio clips to impersonate a friend’s voice.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication. This won’t stop every scam, but it makes it harder for attackers to take over your accounts after a data breach.

If you or someone you know has been scammed:

  1. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps the agency track trends and pursue enforcement.
  2. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute charges and freeze accounts if necessary.
  3. Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion).
  4. File a local police report if you lost money or had your identity stolen—some financial institutions require it to process refunds.

Sources

  • FTC webinar presentation, March 2026, during National Consumer Protection Week (co-hosted with ACA International).
  • FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data for 2025 and early 2026, as cited in the webinar.
  • Additional consumer alerts and guidance available at consumer.ftc.gov.

Note: While the webinar took place in March 2026, the scam tactics described remain current as of late 2026. Always check the FTC’s latest alerts for emerging threats.