ANTI-SCAMS
Scams – when consumers are manipulated into authorising financial transactions or revealing sensitive information – are spreading rapidly across web-based platforms worldwide, causing significant economic loss and psychological and emotional distress.
In 2024, the monetary value of scams was estimated at $1,03 trillion, equivalent to 1% of global GDP. In the US alone, consumer losses to scams in 2023 increased by 14% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly $1 billion monthly.
Scams are evolving in complexity, which makes it harder for consumers to stay protected. Criminals use a number of platforms and techniques, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence has made deception faster, easier and more scalable than ever.
Furthermore, many scams operate across borders, making it difficult for authorities to align legislation, conduct joint investigations and take effective enforcement action.
The growing complexity and global reach of scams mean that consumer education alone is not enough to provide protection. An international, cross-sector, multistakeholder approach is needed to ensure consumers are safeguarded and do not become victims of scams.
Our Vision
The digital economy is the fast-growing growing ecosystem of online platforms, services, and technologies. For it to thrive, consumers must feel confident that it is safe and trustworthy. A secure and resilient digital marketplace where people are protected from scams is an essential part of this.
To make this vision a reality, we need collaborative and consumer-centric approaches for preventing scams, detecting threats, and supporting victims.
- Prevention must be strengthened by using advanced security protocols and collaborative intelligence sharing to block scammers from accessing platforms and services.
- Detection and disruption must be enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and real-time monitoring to quickly identify and respond to suspicious activities.
- Support systems for victims must feature prompt redress and emotional assistance to ensure that every consumer feels protected and heard. This is key to reinforcing overall trust and security in the digital landscape.
Consumer Coalition to Stop Scams
Consumers International is fighting the global scams crisis through a Coalition of 40+ organisations. Established in 2023, the Consumer Coalition to Stop Scams is dedicated to driving stronger policies, fostering collaboration, and launching impactful campaigns to better protect consumers from scams.
The Coalition engages with key regulatory and enforcement authorities to ensure that consumer protection remains at the core of the global response to scams.
It is open to our Members, government, subject matter experts, and global businesses dedicated to disrupting the channels used by criminals to target consumers. This includes sectors such as telecommunications, e-commerce, card services, payment providers, and financial institutions.
Consumers International Members who are in the Coalition include:
What to Expect from the Coalition
As the only truly global group addressing the scams crisis, the Coalition amplifies consumer voices and works to shape practical solutions that can be adopted worldwide.
In 2024, the Coalition drafted nine Scam Policy Resilience Initiatives, selecting three as priority focus areas for the coming year: Enhanced Verification Procedures, Advanced Monitoring Systems, and Collaboration for Prevention.
These initiatives provide a framework for consumer organisations, businesses, and regulators to work together in reducing scams. By involving all stakeholders in the policy-making discussions, we ensure that the solutions are both comprehensive and widely applicable.
Over 2025, these initiatives will be scaled and implemented, particularly through a novel Scams Barometer and our co-branded Policy Brief:
- Scams Barometer will provide a first-of-its-kind, consumer-driven tool designed to track scam trends from the consumer perspective. Published twice per year, it will offer insights for scam prevention. Our first edition – built with our Scams Coalition participants will be released in late 2025.
- Policy Brief is a joint publication developed by the Scams Coalition participants between August and November 2025. It provides co-created, actionable recommendations to advance resilience against scams, for use across consumer groups, policymakers, regulators, and businesses to strengthen scam responses in their own contexts.
Our Work in Anti-Scams
In 2019, we released our report Social Media Scams: Understanding the Consumer Experience to Create a Safer Digital World. Using research from two years of public conversation monitoring in nine countries and interviews with key stakeholders, the report reveals the growing threat of scams on social platforms and calls for greater cooperation to protect consumers.
We also launched the Global Statement to Stop Online Scams at our 2023 Global Congress in 2023, in collaboration with our Members. Our statement urges governments to enforce stronger protections against the growing threat of scams on technology platforms.
Join us
We invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact on the fight against scams, ensuring a safer environment for consumers worldwide. If you are a business looking to engage in this work and explore the benefits of our Change Network please reach out to partnerships@consint.org.