The Washington.Post.com reported that “Impostor scams topped the nation’s fraud reports last year, with more than 1 million complaints filed and $3.5 billion in losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission. “. The August 1, 2026 article entitled “Impostor scams topped the nation’s fraud reports last year, with more than 1 million complaints filed and $3.5 billion in losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/08/01/how-spot-imposter-scams/) included comments from Reporter Michelle Singletary:
In these schemes, criminals impersonate an official from a trusted organization, such as a government, law enforcement agency or bank. The goal is to steal money, personal data or both.
These scammers have become incredibly cunning at exploiting people’s fears. They make you believe you will be arrested or that your savings are not safe. They might claim that your Social Security number has been linked to a crime. This puts folks in a heightened emotional state, making it hard to think critically.
Anyone surprised?
First published at https://www.vogelitlaw.com/blog/impostor-scams-hit-over-18-billion-in-2026