Artificial Intelligence and deepfake technology were used in about 12% of successful cyber and financial scams reported in the United States in 2025, according to a joint survey by Gallup and the Stop Scams Alliance. The survey estimated that nearly 15 million American adults lost money to financial fraud during the year, with total losses reaching $68 billion, approximately ₹5.8 lakh crore.
Survey Estimates Massive Fraud Losses
The survey was conducted between January and February 2026 among 5,173 US adults. It found that nearly 6% of American adults lost money to financial scams over the past year.
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Experts cited in the survey said the real scale of losses may be higher, as many victims do not report fraud to authorities. The findings also showed that one in four Americans has been scammed at least once during adulthood.
Stop Scams Alliance Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ken Westbrook said organised cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to target victims on a large scale. He said the combination of advanced digital tools, artificial intelligence and international criminal networks has turned financial fraud into a highly organised global enterprise.
Fake Websites Remain Major Threat
The survey found that fraudulent websites were the most common method of cyber fraud, accounting for around 40% of reported cases. Phone calls, text messages and emails were also widely used by criminals to contact victims.
In nearly half of all incidents, victims were manipulated into voluntarily transferring money to fraudsters. Digital payment services and online fund transfer platforms were among the most frequently used channels.
The report said fraudsters relied heavily on social engineering, fake identities and convincing communications to gain trust. In one case cited in the survey, scammers impersonated law enforcement officials and veterinary clinic staff to deceive a woman searching for her missing pet cat and persuade her to send money for a fabricated emergency medical procedure.
Mental Health Impact Also Reported
Among fraud victims, 21% reported severe financial hardship, while 46% said they experienced moderate financial difficulties. The emotional impact was also significant, with 75% of respondents saying the scam negatively affected their mental health and overall well-being.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said AI and deepfake technology have made social engineering-based cybercrime more dangerous. He warned that criminals are using cloned voices, fabricated videos and fake digital identities to build trust and deceive victims.
He advised people not to trust any call, video, email or message solely because it appears authentic. He urged the public to independently verify every financial request, investment proposal or identity verification through official communication channels before taking action.
