{"id":185829,"date":"2026-02-09T11:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/ftc-data-highlights-online-threats-to-consumers-and-businesses\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T12:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T17:55:11","slug":"ftc-data-highlights-online-threats-to-consumers-and-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/ftc-data-highlights-online-threats-to-consumers-and-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"FTC data highlights online threats to consumers and businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

FTC data highlights online threats to consumers and businesses<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.cybersecuritydive.com\/news\/ftc-ransomware-scams-fraud-report\/811705\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-02-09 11:52:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: www.cybersecuritydive.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. <\/p>\n

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Ransomware and other cyberattacks represent a tiny fraction of the fraud complaints that Americans file with the Federal Trade Commission, the FTC said in a report published on Friday.
\nThe newly released data, contained in an annual report mandated by Congress, underscore the fact that other schemes, such as tech-support scams, are a more persistent threat to consumers and should be top of mind for businesses hoping to avoid their own potential security incidents.
\n\u201cImposter scams \u2014 a general category of fraud complaints where someone pretends to be a trusted person to get consumers to send money or give personal information \u2014 are the most common category of fraud reported by consumers since July 1, 2023,\u201d the FTC said in its report.<\/p>\n

Tech-support scams are a consistent presence in the FTC\u2019s data, although the commission said they pale in comparison to other impostor scam reports. Since July 2023, less than 3% of all fraud reports concerned tech-support scams, with only 11% of the scams originating from outside the U.S. \u201cIt may be that consumers report a U.S. source because the scam often involves impersonating well known U.S. technology companies,\u201d the FTC said.
\nAs for ransomware and other malware-based attacks, the FTC said it had received roughly 128,000 reports of such attacks between July 2023 and July 2025, accounting for less than 3% of all fraud complaints. \u201cAs a general matter, the FTC receives few complaints about ransomware or other computer exploits, especially when compared to other types of reported fraud,\u201d the commission said.
\nRoughly one-fifth of the malware complaints alleged a foreign source, with the Philippines and Nigeria appearing most frequently.
\nThe FTC received more than five million fraud complaints in total between July 2023 and July 2025, with roughly 11% of them originating from foreign sources.
\nLesson for businesses
\nWhile the FTC\u2019s report emphasizes the consumer-protection implications of the data, the agency has also been warning businesses about protecting their information from hackers and scammers.
\nIn the report, the commission highlighted its business education program, which contains guidance on avoiding ransomware attacks, scams and other cyber incidents. The resources include blog posts with tips, a video on ransomware prevention and a quiz to test employees\u2019 preparedness.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses often serve as the front-line defenses against cyber attacks and are responsible for engaging in reasonable practices to safeguard consumer data,\u201d the FTC said in its new report. \u201cAs a result, one of the most important ways to fight ransomware attacks is for businesses to take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect themselves and the data in their possession.\u201d
\nTo avoid ransomware attacks, the FTC said, businesses should thoroughly train employees to recognize suspicious emails, improve authentication requirements for email and other systems, deploy intrusion-detection software and perform regular data backups.
\nInternational cooperation
\nTo support its work combating harmful and fraudulent conduct, the FTC regularly coordinates with foreign partners to gather data and investigate violators. As part of the FTC\u2019s annual reports, Congress requires the agency to include information about cooperation with the U.S.\u2019s major cyber adversaries \u2014 Russia, China, Iran and North Korea \u2014 on data security protection and enforcement activities.
\nThe FTC has not interacted with Iran or North Korea and has had only \u201climited interactions\u201d with Russian and Chinese counterparts over the past few years, according to the new report, with \u201clittle or no direct enforcement cooperation on ransomware or cyber-related attacks.\u201d
\nFTC employees met informally with representatives from a Chinese consumer protection agency at an international conference in Washington, D.C., in 2024, according to the report. The Chinese officials proposed negotiating an agreement for voluntary investigative cooperation, the FTC said, but \u201cno further engagement on these or other consumer protection topics occurred.\u201d
\nLegislative push
\nIn its report, the FTC urged Congress to permanently authorize the USA SAFE WEB Act, which authorizes several important forms of international cooperation. \u201cWithout SAFE WEB, the FTC\u2019s ability to work with international partners would be significantly curtailed,\u201d the agency said. \u201cA lapse of such legislation would deprive the FTC of its clear authority to pursue fraudulent and other harmful conduct relating to foreign commerce, likely having a dramatic impact on U.S. consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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