Online Scams in the United States: 2026 Complete Guide
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported $12.5 billion in cybercrime losses in the United States in 2025, a 22% increase over 2024. Americans filed over 880,000 complaints, with the highest losses in investment fraud ($4.57 billion), business email compromise ($2.9 billion), and tech support scams ($1.3 billion). If you live in the US, you are a target. This guide covers the specific scams you're most likely to encounter in 2026.
IRS and Tax Scams
IRS impersonation remains one of the most reported scams in America. Scammers call, email, or text claiming you owe back taxes, face arrest, or need to verify your identity. The pressure tactics are aggressive: threats of arrest warrants, license suspension, deportation (targeting immigrants specifically), and property seizure.
"This is Agent [Name] from the Internal Revenue Service. You have an outstanding tax liability of $4,350. A federal arrest warrant has been issued in your name. To resolve this immediately, purchase Green Dot MoneyPak cards totaling $4,350 and call us back with the card numbers." — A standard IRS phone scam. The IRS never demands payment via gift cards, never threatens arrest by phone, and always initiates contact by mail.
Tax season (January through April) is peak season for these scams, but they operate year-round. Newer variants include fake IRS emails about "Economic Impact Payments," fake online tax filing portals that steal personal information, and text messages about "unclaimed refunds."
The IRS will never call you demanding immediate payment, threaten arrest, request gift cards or wire transfers, or ask for personal information via email. All legitimate IRS communication begins with a mailed letter.
Social Security Scams
Callers claim to be from the Social Security Administration, alleging your SSN has been "suspended" due to suspicious activity, linked to criminal behavior, or used in a fraud case. They demand payment to "reactivate" your number or request your SSN to "verify" your identity.
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The SSA does not suspend Social Security numbers. The SSA does not call threatening arrest. If you receive such a call, hang up and report it to the SSA Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
Bank and Financial Institution Impersonation
Scammers impersonate Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and every major US bank. Messages warn of "suspicious activity" on your account and direct you to fake login pages or phone numbers staffed by scammers. In 2026, these messages are increasingly delivered through text (smishing), often with spoofed sender IDs that appear to come from the bank's real number.
Protection: Never click links in messages about your bank account. Open the bank's official app or type the URL directly. Call the number on the back of your debit card — not the number in the message. Use IsThisAScam to analyze any suspicious banking message instantly.
Amazon, USPS, UPS, and FedEx Delivery Scams
Package delivery scams exploit America's massive e-commerce volume. "Your package cannot be delivered" messages with links to fake tracking sites collect personal and payment information. USPS, UPS, and FedEx impersonation texts are among the most commonly reported scams in the US.
Legitimate delivery notifications include tracking numbers and direct links to official carrier websites. They never ask for payment to release a package. Check tracking on the carrier's official site using the tracking number from your order confirmation.
Tech Support Scams
Pop-up warnings claiming "Your computer is infected!" with a phone number to call for "Microsoft Support" continue to cost Americans over $1 billion annually. Scammers gain remote access, install actual malware, and charge $200-$800 for fake repairs.
Microsoft, Apple, and Google will never display pop-up alerts with phone numbers. If you see one, close the browser (use Task Manager if needed). Legitimate tech support comes from official channels you initiate.
Romance Scams
The FTC reported $1.14 billion in romance scam losses in the US in 2025. Americans on dating apps and social media are targeted by romance scammers — often operating from organized scam compounds in Southeast Asia — who build emotional relationships and then request money for fabricated emergencies, travel to visit you, or "investment opportunities."
See our detailed guide on pig butchering scams for the full breakdown.
Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
Investment scams — particularly crypto — are the single largest fraud category in the US. Victims are drawn into fake investment platforms that show artificial returns, encouraged to invest more, and then blocked from withdrawing. Social media, dating apps, and messaging platforms are the primary recruiting channels.
How to Report Scams in the US
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov (for internet crime)
- SSA OIG: oig.ssa.gov (for Social Security scams)
- IRS: irs.gov/report-phishing
- State Attorney General: Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint"
- Local police: File a report, especially if you've lost money
Americans have robust reporting infrastructure, but less than 10% of scam victims actually report. Reporting helps law enforcement identify patterns and shut down operations — even if you haven't lost money.
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