Based on FTC Consumer Sentinel data, FBI IC3 reports, and our own analysis of over 10 million scam reports processed through IsThisAScam in the past 12 months, we have ranked the 25 most common scams of 2026 by estimated victim count. This is not a list of the costliest scams (investment fraud takes that title) — it is a ranking of the scams that reach the most people.
Encountered any of these? Check messages, emails, and websites at IsThisAScam.to — it is free and catches all 25 of these scam types.
1. Phishing Emails (Est. 300M+ attempts/year in U.S.)
Still the undisputed king. Emails impersonating banks, tech companies, and government agencies asking you to click a link and enter credentials. AI has made these grammatically flawless. See how to check emails.
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2. Smishing / SMS Phishing (Est. 220M+ attempts/year)
Text messages about fake deliveries, bank alerts, and account suspensions. USPS and Amazon are the most impersonated brands. See checking text messages.
3. Robocall Scams (Est. 25B+ calls/year)
Automated calls about car warranties, student loan forgiveness, Medicare benefits, and IRS threats. See checking phone numbers.
4. Online Shopping Scams (Est. 16M victims)
Fake stores selling products that never ship or shipping counterfeits. Social media ads are the primary driver. See verifying stores.
5. Tech Support Scams (Est. 8M victims)
Pop-ups and phone calls claiming your computer is infected. The "technician" gains remote access and installs actual malware or charges hundreds for fake cleanup.
6. Romance Scams (Est. 3.5M victims, $1.14B losses)
Fake relationships built over weeks or months, ending in financial requests. AI chatbots and deepfakes are accelerating these. See spotting fake profiles.
7. Investment Scams (Est. 2.5M victims, $4.57B losses)
Cryptocurrency scams, fake trading platforms, Ponzi schemes, and "guaranteed return" offers. The costliest category per victim. See verifying investments.
8. Employment Scams (Est. 2.2M victims)
Fake job postings that collect personal data or demand upfront payments for equipment and training. See checking job postings.
9. Government Impersonation (Est. 1.8M victims)
Calls and emails from fake IRS, SSA, Medicare, and law enforcement agents demanding payment or personal information.
10. Prize and Lottery Scams (Est. 1.5M victims)
Notifications that you have won a prize you never entered. Collection requires a "processing fee" or "tax payment" upfront.
11. Subscription Trap Scams (Est. 1.3M victims)
"Free trial" offers for supplements, streaming services, or software that auto-enroll you in expensive recurring charges with nearly impossible cancellation processes.
12. Rental Scams (Est. 1.1M victims)
Fake rental listings collecting deposits for properties the scammer does not control. See verifying rentals.
13. Charity Scams (Est. 900K victims)
Fake nonprofits and fraudulent GoFundMe campaigns, especially after disasters. See verifying charities.
14. Social Media Marketplace Scams (Est. 850K victims)
Buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist being defrauded through fake payments, non-delivery, or stolen goods.
15. Impersonation Scams (Non-Government) (Est. 800K victims)
Scammers posing as utility companies, internet providers, or familiar businesses demanding payment to prevent service interruption.
16. QR Code Scams / Quishing (Est. 700K victims)
Malicious QR codes placed on parking meters, restaurant menus, and flyers that redirect to phishing pages.
17. AI Voice Clone Scams (Est. 500K victims — fastest growing)
Cloned voices of family members used in fake emergency calls. See how scammers use AI.
18. Cryptocurrency Recovery Scams (Est. 400K victims)
Fraudulent "recovery services" targeting people who already lost money to crypto scams.
19. Fake App Scams (Est. 350K victims)
Malicious apps on official stores — fleeceware, banking trojans, and spyware. See checking apps.
20. Student Loan Forgiveness Scams (Est. 300K victims)
Fake companies charging fees to file free government loan forgiveness applications on your behalf.
21. Health Insurance Scams (Est. 280K victims)
Fake insurance plans sold through telemarketing that provide no actual coverage.
22. Ticket Scams (Est. 250K victims)
Fake or duplicate tickets for concerts, sports, and events sold through social media and unofficial resale sites.
23. Moving and Contractor Scams (Est. 200K victims)
Movers or contractors who take deposits and disappear, or hold belongings hostage for inflated fees.
24. Pet Scams (Est. 180K victims)
Fake pet listings requiring deposits and "shipping fees" for puppies and kittens that do not exist.
25. Debt Collection Scams (Est. 150K victims)
Fake debt collectors threatening legal action for debts you do not owe, demanding payment via gift cards or wire transfer.
Protect Yourself Across All 25 Categories
IsThisAScam's 6-layer detection engine is designed to catch scam patterns across every category on this list. Whether it is a phishing email, fake store, suspicious text, or investment pitch — paste it at IsThisAScam.to for instant analysis.
For deeper analysis, see 2026 scam statistics and why smart people fall for scams.
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