WASHINGTON, D. C. - Scam losses reported to Cuyahoga County's Department of Consumer Affairs have more than doubled over the past year with individuals losing much larger amounts to swindles in shorter periods of time than ever before, its director told a U.S. Senate hearing this week.

Money lost to cons that were reported to the office soared from $1.2 million in 2023 to $2.7 million so far this year, consumer affairs department director Sheryl Harris told a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing chaired by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat.