Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more

When Simon's wife of 43 years passed away, it felt a bit like he'd died too.

Key points

• Simon was stuck paying back $185, 000 he had borrowed, and tens of thousands of dollars in extra taxes on capital he had withdrawn and lost.
• Like Simon, virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data demonstrates.
• In his overwhelming grief, Simon sought companionship online, like so plenty of other lonely widows and widowers.

What happened

In his overwhelming grief, Simon sought companionship online, like so plenty of other lonely widows and widowers. Almost immediately he met Emily. But over the next few months, Emily. This person simon realized too late was a fake, stole $800, 000 from him. And that was just the beginning.

Simon was stuck paying back $185, 000 he had borrowed, and tens of thousands of dollars in extra taxes on capital he had withdrawn and lost. He tried to report the crime to his local police and the FBI, he remarked, but nothing came of it. Instead, he was contacted by yet another scammer – offering to connect him with the Secret Service to recoup his losses in exchange for even more funds.

Like Simon, virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data demonstrates. Scams in the U.S. Have surged to a record high, causing billions in losses for Americans.

The bottom line

For now, scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.