Cases of fraud dipped a bit in 2021, but the amount of money lost to scams rose, according to a recent report by Fraud.org, a project of the National Consumers League.
The median amount of money lost to fraud last year — $800 — was the highest since 2012. In particular, investment scams exploded 168% higher, thanks to the growth of cryptocurrency.
But although growing fast, investment fraud still ranks far behind a trio of scams that continue to bedevil consumers everywhere.
The following were the three biggest scams of 2021, by far. Find out how to avoid them.
3. Phishing/spoofing
Anyone with an email address knows this scam has become a regrettable part of daily life. In this form of fraud, the crook emails you and pretends to be a well-known source. The scammer then asks you to enter or confirm personal information before bilking you.
These scams made up just over 17% of all complaints that Fraud.org received in 2021, with victims losing a median amount of $800.
2. Internet: General merchandise
Shopping on the internet generally is safe, as long as you are smart about it — such as avoiding using a debit card to shop online. Still, even the most cautious shoppers can let down their guard and end up victims of fraud.
In this type of scam, the goods you purchase either never are delivered or are mispresented. Scams in this category made up just over 19% of all types of…
