Job Scam Cost Victim $20,000, FTC Reports Tripled Losses

A New York woman, Kathryn Detweiler, lost approximately $20,000 to a job scam that began with a text message from a fake recruiter. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported losses from job scams tripled from 2020 to 2023, with employment scams costing Americans $630 million in 2025. Detweiler's initial investment of around $18 led to a temporary payout, which misled her into investing more funds. Ultimately, the scam was revealed when family members intervened, and it was confirmed that the fraudsters had mimicked a legitimate UK-based marketing company's website.