New data reveals 96% of Americans receive at least one scam call, email or text every week

Phishing scams have reached an all-time high, rising 94% year over year as cybercriminals increasingly target consumers through emails, text messages and phone calls. According to data from online broker experts BrokerChooser, 96% of Americans receive at least one suspected scam communication every week, with people in the United States receiving roughly twice as many fraudulent messages as consumers in other countries. The surge comes as losses from cybercrime exceeded $20 billion for the first time in 2025, highlighting the growing financial impact of online fraud.

Phishing was identified as the leading cyber threat, with 191,561 reports recorded during the year. Scammers frequently impersonate trusted companies and government agencies to make fraudulent messages appear legitimate and convince victims to reveal sensitive information or send money. PayPal ranked as the brand most commonly associated with phishing scams in the BrokerChooser analysis, generating around 38,500 U.S. searches each month for terms related to scam texts and emails.

The Department of Motor Vehicles ranked second, with an average of 35,950 monthly searches related to phishing attempts, equivalent to more than 431,000 searches annually. The United States Postal Service came third, recording approximately 25,690 related searches each month and more than 308,000 annually. Apple ranked fourth with around 16,300 monthly searches, translating to approximately 195,600 searches over a year. Venmo rounded out the top five, with about 14,750 monthly searches related to phishing scams and approximately 177,000 annually.

Experts say scammers deliberately choose familiar brands because consumers are more likely to trust messages that appear to come from organizations they regularly use. Adam Nasli, head broker analyst at BrokerChooser, explained that phishing becomes convincing when criminals imitate legitimate organizations such as banks, delivery companies and tax authorities. Fraudsters often create a sense of urgency by warning victims that an account will be suspended, a package will be lost or an immediate payment is required. This pressure can cause people to act before carefully examining the message.

Cybersecurity experts recommend avoiding direct responses to unexpected emails, texts and calls that request personal information or payments. Consumers should instead contact the organization through its official website, mobile application or a trusted phone number rather than using links or contact details provided in a suspicious message. People are also advised to carefully inspect sender addresses, website domains and unusual requests before taking action.

Passwords, banking information and other sensitive credentials should never be entered through links contained in unsolicited messages. Experts also warn consumers to be particularly cautious when a message demands immediate action or threatens consequences for failing to respond. Taking a few minutes to independently verify a request can prevent significant financial and personal losses. As phishing techniques become more sophisticated, consumers are increasingly required to distinguish between genuine communications and carefully designed scams.

The record increase in phishing activity shows that cybercriminals continue to exploit familiar brands, urgency and consumer trust to reach potential victims. With cybercrime losses continuing to grow, basic caution and independent verification remain among the most effective defenses against fraudulent messages.