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Believe it or not, the United States is dealing with an epidemic of people being swindled out of their money and other assets.

This rarely appears on the news, as many scams happen behind the scenes and when the cameras aren't rolling. Regardless, the lack of public attention doesn't make being scammed any less devastating.

Ironically, shining more of a light on scammers, their tactics, and what to look out for may actually protect people going forward.

Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shared some pretty shocking information about scams in the United States.

Looking at the numbers

Last year saw a 30% uptick in consumer losses generated by scams, compared to 2021. Further developments from the FTC likewise reveal that scams pertaining to cryptocurrency and investments are the most common ones people fall for.

Consumers collectively lost nearly $4 billion just to these cons alone in 2022. That marks an over 100% rise in successful scams since the year prior.

When many Americans think about scams, they assume older people who may have less knowledge about technology remain more vulnerable. However, people between the ages of 20 and 29 actually fell for fraudsters more often than folks between 50 and 59.

On the flip side, younger victims of scams lost less money than their older counterparts. Part of this is because elderly Americans tend to have more assets than younger people who are still building careers and wealth.

Knowing what to look out for

One of the best ways for Americans of all ages to safeguard themselves from scammers is being aware of how they operate.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network confirmed that many fraudsters rely on emotionally riling up their targets. This can make people less inclined to think objectively and more inclined to make impulsive decisions that later backfire.

Scammers also attempt to convey a sense of urgency.

Oftentimes, this involves creating the illusion that if the target fails to fork over funds, they'll miss out on an opportunity, pass up a great investment, or incur some penalty that could have otherwise been avoided.

Officials also want the general public to know about the following areas where scammers are most likely to strike:

• Romance
• Investment
• Robocalls
• Gift card payments
• Online quizzes
• Social media marketplaces
• Insurance
• Cryptocurrency
• Phony texts and emails (often alleging you have a delayed package)