In 2023, scammers stole over $1 trillion worldwide, highlighting the alarming scale of this issue. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, the US is the most affected country, followed by the UK, Canada, India, and Australia.
Over 690,000 people fell victim to fraudsters in the US alone during the same year.
In Australia, authorities have received over 300,000 scam reports. These staggering numbers emphasize the urgent need for increased awareness.
The repercussions of falling victim to a scam extend far beyond financial loss. According to the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, around 40% of all online scam victims have experienced stress as a result of being scammed. We spoke to thousands of victims ourselves, and here’s what we discovered.
The emotional toll on people we spoke with is severe, leading to conditions such as depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even strokes. Many victims suffer from sleepless nights and significant weight loss due to anxiety and the inability to eat. The psychological impact of scams is deep, which only underscores the importance of addressing the mental health of victims and the necessity for our help.