“73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack, and these are common across age groups. Most get scam calls, texts and emails at least weekly. Online scams and other internet crimes are skyrocketing, with a record $16.6 billion in losses reported to the FBI in 2024. The federal government, banks and companies are all sounding alarms. And the public is also wary, with many having firsthand experience:

• Nearly all Americans view online scams and attacks as a national problem. More than nine-in-ten say online scams and attacks are a problem in the country, including 79% who describe them as a major problem.
• Most U.S. adults have been a victim of an online scam or attack. We find that 73% of U.S. adults have ever experienced things like credit card fraud, ransomware or online shopping scams.

While Americans see older adults as more vulnerable to these crimes, significant portions of both older and younger adults have been scammed and targeted online. These are some of the key findings from a Pew Research Center survey of 9,397 U.S. adults conducted from April 14 to 20, 2025. We asked Americans if six different types of online scams or attacks had happened to them. Overall, about three-quarters (73%) say at least one has, with 32% saying it’s happened in the past year. Of the six, Americans most commonly report that online hackers made fraudulent charges on their credit or debit card. About half of U.S. adults (48%) report this has happened to them. Roughly a quarter to a third report that three other types of scams happened to them:

• 36% say they purchased an item online that never arrived or was counterfeit and it was not refunded.
• 29% say a personal online account was hacked, such as a social media, email or bank account.
• 24% say they got a scam email, text message or call that led them to give away personal information.

One-in-ten or fewer say the remaining two scams and online attacks happened:

• 10% say that ransomware blocked use of their computer until they paid money.
• 7% say they gave money to a fake online investment opportunity, such as for real estate or stocks.

Many Americans have had multiple types of online scams happen to them. About one-in-five (22%) say they’ve experienced two of six, and the same share say three or more./..”