Americans see fraud everywhere – but few know how to stop it

That text about an unpaid toll. The email from your bank. The urgent voicemail from a government agency. Americans are encountering so many potential scams that financial fraud is beginning to feel less like an occasional threat and more like a routine fact of life.

In fact, three in five Americans have either encountered financial fraud themselves or know someone who has in the past three years, according to new research from CFP Board.

The survey of 1,218 Americans found that 62% had direct or indirect experience with financial fraud, while 55% said they expect themselves, a family member or a close friend to be targeted within the next 12 months. Despite that widespread exposure, only 37% said they are confident they could identify every form of financial fraud. Meanwhile, 29% said they are unsure they could detect a fraud attempt before it’s too late.

“Financial fraud is a direct threat to Americans’ financial security, and spotting a scam is not the same as being prepared to stop one,” said K. Dane Snowden, CEO of CFP Board. “Our research suggests many people may be more vulnerable than they realize – and fraud does its damage in that gap.”  

The findings point to a growing disconnect between awareness and preparedness as scammers increasingly employ artificial intelligence, deepfake videos and highly personalized phishing campaigns. Americans reported the greatest confidence in spotting traditional phone and email scams, with 71% saying they could identify those attempts. Confidence fell when respondents were asked about AI-generated voice impressions, deepfake video calls and personalized messages using real names or account information.

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One of the survey’s most notable findings was the divide between younger and older Americans. Respondents age 45 and under were significantly more confident in their ability to recognize digital fraud. Yet they also reported losing money to fraud at higher rates than older adults, 32% versus 20%. Younger Americans were also more likely to report encountering investment fraud, at 29%, compared with 14% among those over age 45.

The survey also found that many Americans remain uncertain about how to respond after becoming victims. One-third of fraud victims said they never contacted a bank, law enforcement agency or government authority following an incident. Among those who stayed silent, the most common reason was not knowing who to contact, followed by concerns that the loss was too small to warrant reporting or that reporting to authorities could provoke retribution from the scammer. One-quarter cited embarrassment or shame.   

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The survey found that Americans largely view financial fraud as inevitable. Yet even as awareness grows, many remain uncertain about how to identify increasingly sophisticated scams or what steps to take after becoming a victim, highlighting the challenges consumers face as fraud tactics continue to evolve.