WASHINGTON, D.C. -

New information released this week by the Federal Trade Commission reinforced how widespread fraud is — and not just in the auto-finance industry.

The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network received 3.2 million reports in 2019, including nearly 1.7 million fraud reports as well as identity theft and other reports. The Consumer Sentinel Network is a database that receives reports directly from consumers, as well as from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and a number of private partners.

Officials said consumers reported losing more than $1.9 billion to fraud in 2019, with nearly $667 million lost to imposter scams alone. While scammers target consumers using every possible method of communication, the FTC said phone calls were the most common.

The regulator indicated the most common type of fraud reported to the FTC in 2019 was imposter scams; government imposter scams, in particular, were the most frequently reported, and up more than 50% since 2018.

Of all reports received, the FTC noted the top categories included identity theft, imposter scams, telephone and mobile services, online shopping and credit bureaus.

A small percentage of consumers who reported they encountered a fraud over the phone said they actually lost money. When they did, the FTC found the median individual loss was more than $1,000.

The FTC reiterated that it uses the reports it receives through the Sentinel network as the starting point for most of its law enforcement investigations, and the agency also shares these reports with more than 2,500 law enforcement users around the country.

“While the FTC does not respond to individual complaints, Sentinel reports are a vital part of the agency’s law enforcement mission,” officials said.