10.2.2025 Brittani Yeager
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes
October is underway, and with it comes a critical reminder: feeling confident in your scam-spotting skills isn’t always the same as actually stopping theft and fraud. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s (GASA) 2025 State of Scams in the USA report reveals a stark disconnect between what people think they can detect and what happens in real life.
Does this cognitive dissonance influence the steps we take (or don’t) after being scammed? Let’s dig in and see.
Confidence vs. Reality: The Confidence Gap
Consumers like to believe they can spot scams – but the data tells a different story. According to the State of Scams in the USA report:
- 77% of Americans said they encountered a scam in the last 12 months, averaging 377 scam encounters per person per year (meaning almost daily exposure!).
- Meanwhile, 70% of U.S. adults said they had been scammed in the past year.
- And yet, many consumers remain confident: 81% say they can spot scams. That confidence is compelling – but sadly, misleading.
People’s confidence in spotting a scam can be reassuring, but it can also be misleading. When most of us operate under the assumption that “I’d never fall for a scam,” we’re less likely to double-check, less likely to verify, and less likely to take crucial actions that can help tamp down scams.
While these daily encounters are overwhelming for any individual, they’re creating an environment where consumers are actively looking for businesses they trust to help protect them. The research shows that 35% of consumers believe commercial organizations should be most responsible for cybersecurity protection – more than any other type of entity, including government agencies.
Why Reporting Scams Matter – And Why It Often Doesn’t Happen
Reporting is a crucial step in closing the loop, both for victims and for the systems and platforms that try to detect and prevent further fraud. Unfortunately, the report shows there’s a disconnect here, too.
- 74% of those who encountered a scam reported it, but 57% said either no action was taken (29%) or they were unsure of the outcome (28%).
- For those who lost money to scams, 82% reported the incident to their bank or payment provider; yet, only 44% managed to recover at least some of the funds.
- Surprisingly, many don’t even try to report. Among non-reporters, the top reasons for not taking this step were:
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- I was not sure who to report the scam to (40%)
- I did not think it would make a difference / no action would be taken (36%)
- I did not lose any money (28%)
- I did not think it was important enough (19%)
- I was not certain that it was a scam (11%)
And then, of course, there are other reasons that appear but at lower rates, such as the process being too complex (which should not be the case!), they forgot, they didn’t have enough time, or they were too embarrassed or afraid (this also should not be the case!).
All of this reveals a troubling cycle: many people believe reporting is futile, so they don’t do it – which in turn means fewer data points, weaker prevention strategies, and less accountability for scammers.
If you’re interested in participating in a more in-depth conversation about this, join our webinar on Tuesday, October 21. You’ll walk away with easy-to-implement actions for both you and your organization. Register here today!
Also, if you want to put your own cybersecurity knowledge to the test, take this week’s quiz on our interactive CAM resources hub. Every week, we’ll feature a new quiz – each one based on one of the Core 4 Cybersecurity Basics!
Closing the Gap: How We Turn Confidence Into Action
Businesses like yours can leverage consumers’ overconfidence in detecting scams! It’s a good thing that can be built upon. Here are some strategies to bring your customers’ perceived confidence closer to reality – and make reporting part of the defense:
- Educate about red flags. Confidence should be grounded in knowledge. The more people know about typical scam patterns, the better their judgment will align with reality.
- Make reporting obvious and simple. The report showed that “not sure who to report to” was the #1 reason people don’t report. Add clear in-app or website reporting buttons that people can’t miss.
- Show impact. One reason people feel reporting is pointless is because they rarely see visible action. Communicate with those who report and share outcomes!
- Encourage reporting encounters. Even if someone loses nothing, reporting “near misses” or attempted scams improves intelligence on emerging threats.
- Collect and share aggregated data and trends. This kind of transparency is crucial in building trust – and trust will lead to more action!
If organizations implement these changes, confidence becomes a useful front-line force – not a false sense of security.
Your Role in Your Customers’ Online Security Matters
Let’s go back to the question posed at the beginning of this blog:does the cognitive dissonance that exists between our overconfidence in detecting scams and true victimization rates influence the steps we take (or don’t) after being scammed? We believe the answer is yes. We know that consumers’ overconfidence breeds complacency – and that complacency is often projected onto the very platforms where scams occur. That’s why it’s more important than ever for financial institutions, retailers, and digital platforms across the board to loudly and proudly talk about scam prevention.
Head over to our CAM resource hub and dive deeper into the findings from the State of Scams in the United States of America. You’ll also find lots of other resources to help your business fight scams. Don’t forget to take this week’s quiz and share your newfound knowledge with your social networks. After all, it’s the education and awareness that comes from these conversations and dialogue that will truly make a difference.
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