The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a staggering dataset that confirms what many defensive teams have long suspected: social engineering is no longer just a tactical entry point; it is a booming macroeconomic industry. According to the FTC's latest report, consumers reported losing a record $3.5 billion to imposter scams, nearly three times the losses reported since 2020. Imposter scams now dominate the threat landscape, accounting for nearly one in three of all fraud reports filed.