Key Takeaways
- People aged 60-69 filed the most US fraud reports in 2024, at 18% of the total.
- But the middle is flat: every group from 30 to 69 sits between 15% and 18%, together making up 66% of all reports.
- The quiet ends are the youngest group (3%) and people 80 and over (4%) – scams are not only a problem for the elderly.
The Story Behind the Numbers
Ask most people which age group scammers go after, and they will say the elderly. The data tells a different story.
Here is how US fraud reports filed in 2024 broke down by the age of the person reporting:
- 19 and under: 3%
- 20–29: 13%
- 30–39: 17%
- 40–49: 16%
- 50–59: 15%
- 60–69: 18%
- 70–79: 14%
- 80 and over: 4%
People aged 60-69 filed the most reports, at 18%. But the gap is narrow. Every group between 30 and 69 sits within three percentage points of the next. Together, those four groups account for 66% of all reports.
The quiet zone is at the edges: the youngest group filed 3% of reports, and people 80 and over filed 4%. The data shows the split, not the reason behind it – whether those groups are targeted less, or simply report less.
Why This Data Is Important
The real finding is not that one group leads. It is how flat the middle is – and how little that matches the advice people actually get. That matters because nearly every scam warning is aimed at one end of the chart, yet the 30-39 group filed 17% of all reports, a share almost identical to the top group.
The stereotype is part of what makes the scam work. A fake delivery text or a bogus job offer lands hardest on someone certain they are too young or too online to fall for it. Those messages are built to look ordinary, not obviously fake. Being sure you are not the target is exactly what makes you an easy one.
Looking Ahead: Future Outlook
Expect the middle of the table to stay crowded. Banking, shopping, and investing keep moving online at every age, and reports follow. The 60-69 group will likely hold the top spot for now, but the one worth watching is 30-49 – deep in digital life, rarely warned. Basic habits carry across every age: verify before you pay, keep your IP address private, and know what a VPN actually does.
Source & Methodology
Figures come from the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, published by the US Federal Trade Commission in March 2025. Percentages are based on 2024 fraud reports in which the person provided their age. Reports are unverified consumer submissions rather than survey results, so they reflect who chose to report. The database is mainly US-based, with a small share of reports from international partners.