FBI Returns $336 Million to Scam Victims Amid $18 Billion in Reported Losses

Americans lost nearly $18 billion to cyberfraud in 2025, a figure that equates to more than $2 million in losses every hour. Despite this massive outflow of cash, federal agencies returned a combined $2.9 billion to victims over the past two fiscal years. A new congressional investigation released Tuesday details how the U.S. government’s fragmented response leaves many victims without full reimbursement. The report was authored by ranking Democrats Sen. Maggie Hassan and Rep. Don Beyer of the Joint Economic Committee.

The committee found that no single federal entity tracks the total amount of money seized from overseas scam operations or the total returned to Americans. The FBI reported returning $336 million to victims in 2025. The Federal Trade Commission stated it returned $1.83 billion to fraud victims in fiscal year 2025, though the agency could not determine how much of that sum originated from overseas compounds. The U.S. Secret Service recovered more than $770 million in seized assets for victims during fiscal years 2024 and 2025, noting the funds came from various fraud schemes.

The U.S. State Department indicated that foreign law enforcement agencies supported by the department seized proceeds in the low hundreds of millions of dollars. However, the State Department advised the committee to query the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Treasury for specific details. These figures represent only a portion of the total reported losses. Many Americans do not report their crimes to the FBI, meaning the actual financial impact may be higher than the reported $18 billion.

Sen. Hassan noted in an email that transnational criminal organizations use U.S. technology, including artificial intelligence, to run massive compounds. She stated that the scale of the challenge requires Congress, the Administration, and the private sector to strengthen their collective efforts. The report drew on findings from a yearlong investigation by The Associated Press and FRONTLINE, which highlighted the difficulty victims face in recovering funds despite increased seizure activity by government agencies.

State Department cutbacks have affected anti-scam efforts abroad. The department eliminated at least one program in Bangladesh that trained local law enforcement in cyberfraud investigations. Bangladesh has emerged as a hub for global scam operations, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime funded by the European Union. The State Department told the committee that its 60 employees in the U.S. and Asia have the tools needed to combat the threat internationally.

Congress is considering legislation that would mandate a unified federal strategy against scams and create a central reporting location for victims. The White House has also advocated for greater federal coordination. Several Justice Department officials told Congress that private sector companies should prioritize scam prevention. Currently, U.S. regulators have not created clear incentives for these firms, unlike the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore, which hold technology and financial companies potentially liable for consumer protection failures.

Kate Griffin, a director at the Aspen Institute’s financial security program, said the U.S. still lacks durable and sustainable scam prevention mechanisms. She noted that current efforts have not yet resulted in reduced victimization. The report urges lawmakers to pass pending bills to establish a central location for victims to report losses and seek assistance.

The Joint Economic Committee will continue to monitor agency responses to its recommendations. The report calls for deeper private sector engagement and better support for victims as the global scam industry expands.