The Hidden Crisis: Why Scams and Cybercrime Deserve Greater Global Attention

Overview

• Scams, fraud, and cybercrime constitute the largest and fastest-growing global crime category in history.

• Scams are larger than human trafficking and drugs combined.

• The overall economic impact is estimated to be between USD$3-6 TRILLION dollars per year.

• China, West Africa, India, and Brazil are its heart, but organized scammers are in every country.

• People die from scams every single day.

• Scams target the elderly, the very young, and everyone in between – no age or demographic is safe – everyone becomes a victim and everyone will become a victim.

• Scams represent the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world.

• Scams Fraud and Cybercrime represent the world’s 3rd largest GDP – only less than the U.S. & China.

• Public discourse and policy focus disproportionately favor high-profile but less impactful crimes.

• Limited public and political attention creates systemic barriers to tackling scams effectively.

The Current Crime Prioritization Problem

Crimes that dominate public and political discourse often align with their visibility, not necessarily their impact. For example, in the United States, immigration-related offenses frequently occupy center stage in political rhetoric and media coverage. Politicians and commentators regularly discuss border security, asylum applications, and related enforcement. While these issues carry undeniable significance, their prevalence overshadows crimes like scams and cybercrime, which affect exponentially more people and have far greater economic implications.

Criminological research highlights this “visibility bias” as a major barrier to prioritizing impactful but less publicized crimes. As sociologist David Garland notes in his study of crime and social control, “media amplification creates a distorted hierarchy of crime concerns, favoring the sensational over the substantive.” This misalignment between perceived and actual threat levels leads to a policy landscape ill-equipped to address pervasive crimes like fraud.

The Scale and Scope of Scams and Cybercrime

Scams and cybercrime are pervasive and devastating. According to a 2022 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cybercrime costs the global economy an estimated $8 trillion annually—a figure larger than the GDP of most nations. These crimes affect individuals, corporations, and governments alike, eroding trust and creating a ripple effect across industries.

According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 8% of U.S. adults reported being scammed within the past year (2022-2023,) which translates to roughly 21 million Americans being victims of scams in just one year, highlighting a significant rise in scam activity across the country; this data was collected in collaboration with the Stop Scams Alliance nonprofit organization. Based on this over 60 million U.S. residents are scam victims.

Key statistics illustrate the gravity of this issue:

• Economic Impact: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that Americans lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year. But since less than 5% of victims report these crimes (per the FBI) this number is likely 20x or more larger.

• Prevalence: One in four adults in the U.S. has experienced some form of cyber fraud. But it may be 1 in 1.5 since so few report.

• Vulnerability: Elderly individuals, teens, and marginalized communities are disproportionately targeted, compounding existing inequalities. However, in the end, everyone will be targeted and every economic activity.

Despite these alarming figures, scams and fraud receive minimal airtime compared to crimes with more tangible narratives. Immigration offenses, for instance, are routinely framed in terms of borders, sovereignty, and national identity, offering clear storylines that resonate with audiences. Scams, by contrast, often involve faceless perpetrators and complex methods, with victims that are often universally blamed, making them less compelling to cover.

Why Visibility Matters

Public perception heavily influences crime policy. High-profile crimes—such as violent offenses or drug-related arrests—often lead to immediate and robust governmental responses. Criminologist Stanley Cohen’s theory of “moral panics” explains how media and political attention can amplify certain crimes, creating a sense of urgency that drives policy action. In contrast, crimes like scams and cyber fraud operate in the shadows, receiving scant attention despite their widespread impact.

This discrepancy has real-world consequences. Limited visibility and reporting means fewer resources for prevention, investigation, and enforcement. While crimes like immigration violations or street-level drug offenses receive dedicated task forces and substantial budgets, cybercrime units remain universally underfunded and understaffed.

For example:

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement budget exceeds $25 billion annually.

• By comparison, the FBI’s entire cybercrime budget is less than $1 billion and resulted in less than 500 scammer & cybercriminal arrests per year.

Addressing the Root Causes of Attention Bias

To prioritize scams and cybercrime effectively, systemic changes are needed in how society perceives and addresses crime in general, and these crimes specifically.

These include:

1. Reframing Narratives: Media outlets and policymakers must shift their focus from sensationalism and the exploitive to substance. Highlighting the personal stories of scam victims and the societal costs of cybercrime can create emotional resonance, sustaining greater public engagement.

2. Data-Driven Prioritization: Policymakers should allocate resources based on empirical evidence of harm, that includes realistic projections not just reports, rather than media-driven narratives. For instance, directing more funding toward scams and cybercrime units would reflect the economic and social toll of these offenses.

3. Education and Awareness: Public awareness campaigns can demystify scams and cyber fraud and more importantly the psychological damage being done to our peoples, making them more relatable and comprehensible. Educational initiatives should focus on prevention, equipping individuals with the tools to recognize and avoid scams, and equally important to find the help they need in mental healthcare and recovery – this is a primary focus of the SCARS Institute.

Clearing the Conversation

To fully address scams and cybercrime, society must first confront and resolve competing crime narratives. High-profile issues like immigration crime dominate because they are perceived as immediate and visible threats. By addressing these concerns and reallocating attention and resources, the global community can create space to focus on crimes that, while less visible, are far more impactful.

Consider the analogy of clearing a cluttered desk. Tackling the visible items first creates room to address deeper, systemic issues. In the same vein, resolving contentious but less impactful crimes allows policymakers and the public to concentrate on scams, fraud, and cybercrime. This approach does not diminish the importance of high-profile crimes but recognizes the need for proportional attention.

Conclusion

Scams and cybercrime represent an urgent and ever-growing crisis. Yet their invisibility in large-scale public discourse and policymaking hinders effective action. Addressing this imbalance requires a fundamental shift in how society prioritizes crime—one that values impact over visibility. By clearing the conversational space and focusing on evidence-based harm, governments and communities can allocate resources where they are needed most, ensuring a safer and more equitable future for victim-survivors and society as a whole.

To learn more about the SCARS Institute™ visit www.AgainstScams.org

To contact us email us at contact@AgainstScams.org

Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth Managing Director (Volunteer), SCARS Institute (Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.) Miami Florida USA, Monterrey NL Mexico, Poland, Japan, and Worldwide

SCARS Institute is a proud partner of the Global Cyber Alliance

ScamVictimsSupport.org SCARSeducation.org AgainstScams.org RomanceScamsNOW.com ScamsNOW.com ScamPsychology.org AnyScam.org

Reprinted from X: https://x.com/RomanceScamsNow/status/1880814290346598566