Reported fraudCalendar year 2025
Consumer-reported fraud losses
$15.9 billion
Consumers submitted 3 million fraud reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network in 2025. The FTC’s testimony reported $15.9 billion in fraud losses, including more than $7.9 billion reported lost to investment scams.
Qualification: These are reported losses across fraud categories, not losses attributed exclusively to courses or business opportunities. Investment-scam losses are included in the total, not additional to it. Reports are not a count of unique people.
Market estimateFull year 2025 · March 2026 estimate
U.S. retail e-commerce sales
$1.2337 trillion
The U.S. Census Bureau’s March 10, 2026 release estimated 2025 retail e-commerce sales at $1,233.7 billion ($1.2337 trillion), up 5.4% from 2024.
Qualification: This is the annual estimate as published in that release, not a claim that later revisions leave it unchanged. Census reported a ±1.2 percentage-point margin for the growth estimate. Retail sales are not the course market or evidence of earnings a buyer can expect.
Market estimateQ2 2026 · August 2026 estimate
The latest reported quarter
$340.2 billion
Census estimated Q2 2026 U.S. retail e-commerce sales at $340.2 billion, up 12.2% year over year and representing 17.1% of total retail sales.
Qualification: Seasonally adjusted, not adjusted for price changes; the quarter is a preliminary estimate subject to revision. Census reported a ±0.9 percentage-point margin for year-over-year growth. Market growth does not establish profitability or validate any business opportunity.
Enforcement exampleIM Mastery Academy · since 2018, as alleged in 2025
Financial training & an MLM venture
More than $1.2 billion
According to the FTC and Nevada’s complaint, IM Mastery Academy and related defendants took more than $1.2 billion from consumers since 2018 using allegedly false or baseless earnings claims to sell financial training and a money-making MLM venture.
Qualification: An allegation, not a Truspath finding or recovery. In May 2026, the FTC announced a proposed settlement resolving charges against the lead defendants. That update does not make every allegation a court finding.
Enforcement exampleGrowth Cave · complaint announced in 2025
Business-opportunity income promises
Approximately $50 million
The FTC alleged that Growth Cave took approximately $50 million from consumers through false promises of huge income from business opportunities.
Qualification: An allegation, not a Truspath finding or recovery. The FTC’s January 2026 settlement announcement described nearly $50 million in alleged consumer harm and industry bans resolving the allegations.
Enforcement exampleClick Profit · complaint announced in 2025
AI-powered e-commerce promises
At least $14 million
The FTC’s March 2025 announcement described at least $14 million in consumer losses in the Click Profit matter. The FTC alleged that the business opportunity used deceptive promises of passive income from an AI-powered online-sales system.
Qualification: These describe the FTC’s allegations, not a Truspath finding or recovery. The FTC’s case record notes an August 2025 proposed settlement, including industry bans and assets for consumer redress.