Baker Fraud Report

FTC fraud data. I’ve covered the annual fraud data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center, and also data from Australia. I expected the FTC to release its compilation of fraud data for 2024, but I’ve not seen that. Sources report that even though the FTC has done this every year since 2008, it is not doing a fraud data book this year. Sad to see. Of course the FTC has its tableau site where one can find data, but it is not nearly as easy to get the big picture. In my view this is a loss for the public.

Reviews and recommendation” We went to see Operation Hail Mary, at a local movie theater — and it is just excellent. Written by Andy Weir, author of The Martian, it is very much a crowd pleaser, with stellar reviews — and no politics at all. Sure to be one of the best movies of the year. And its worth seeing it in a theater on a big screen.

Full report here

09
Apr
2026

Baker Fraud Report April 9, 2025

categories: Uncategorized

1 million complaints, all time high
20 billion in losses, up 4 billion from 2024
Extortion of young men most reported fraud
Largest scam type was crypto romance fraud;$7.2 billion in losses
BEC fraud levels still increasing, as are romance frauds
Government impersonation frauds almost doubled
Lottery frauds increased significantly, losses almost double
Tech support frauds up 25%

VERY GOOD AND IMPORTANT! Podcast with Erin West and two journalists on why and how Cambodia became a haven for scam compounds and crypto romance fraud (43m) Part 1 of 2

Indiana adopts new law banning Bitcoin ATM’s

Full report here

02
Apr
2026

Baker Fraud Report, April 2, 2026

categories: Uncategorized

Top Stories

Australia releases 2024 scam data

Losses reported increased slightly to $2.18 billion
Complaints down 2.7%
Top scam reported was investments, presumably crypto romance frauds; accounted for nearly half of losses
Second were romance frauds, followed by BEC fraud and tech support fraud

WSJ says India suffering from “digital arrest” scams in which callers claim to be from banks or law enforcement and must turn over assets to keep them “safe,” “may spread” to the US

But it already does hit the US, and as readers know, it is already a serious problem

DOJ disrupts four domains used by Iran for hacking and propaganda

Germany leads international effort that takes down 373,000 dark web sites selling child porn and supporting frauds; headed by man in China

White House suggests system for getting money back to cybercrime victims

St. Louis: DOJ and Wisconsin AG get summary judgment order against timeshare exit company that did presentations at venues around the country; must repay $140 million

Full Report here

26
Mar
2026