On Aug. 19, 2024, the FBI issued a press release announcing the launch of a new national awareness campaign called “Take a Beat.”
According to the FBI’s latest Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, there has already been $1.6 billion in losses due to online fraud from January to May of 2024, which is nearly $300 million more from the same time last year.
“Fraud remains one of the most devastating violations the FBI works due to number of victims and the number of losses,” said Executive Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “In addition to the immediate financial harm, victims can experience other harm to include emotional and sometimes physical. Preventing fraud victimization takes a whole of community approach, so we encourage conversation between you and your loved ones in signs of potential scams, what to do if you fall victim, and how to report.”