Telephone scams have reached such epidemic proportions in the United States that more than nine of every 10 American households have been solicited for one of the many frauds now sweeping the country, according to a new consumer survey.

The study, conducted by Louis Harris & Associates and released today, says that just one-third of the fraud victims report the scams, and only 10% ever get any of their money back.

"The number of people getting hit by these scams is escalating, and the types of frauds are becoming more sophisticated," said Linda Golodner, president of the National Consumers League, the Washington, D.C., group sponsoring the survey. "The new technology available is allowing scam artists to target their victim more easily than ever before."

According to the National Consumer League, these are the top five phone frauds now sweeping the country:

* "Guaranteed" Prize Scams: Operators of these prize scams contact their victims a second time and tell them they have been given another opportunity to win bigger and better prizes. But consumers are required to either send money or place a call to a costly 900 number to claim the prize.

* Hidden International Toll Charges: With consumers wary of mounting 900 charges, scam artists are enticing their prey to call phone numbers with obscure international area codes for sex talk and other conversation. Cases involving the 809 area code for the Dominican Republic and the 599 area code for the Netherlands Antilles have been reported extensively.

* Pay-To Charges: Callers to an 800 number are charged for the information dispensed and also asked to accept long-distance charges to the call.

* "Helping the Handicapped": Consumers are asked to donate money or buy overpriced goods to help the handicapped. But the causes are suspicious at best and bogus at worst. The most reported "handicap," authorities say, is that the caller has a criminal background.

* Silent Swindles: Consumers are lured to make a "terrific" investment in cheap Florida real estate, but they must promise to keep the deal a secret for a year. Why? Because, the scam artist says, they are buying up distressed properties and the owners have a "right of redemption" if they get wind that their property is up for sale. The real reason for the secrecy, authorities say, is that it allows the con artist to get away with the consumer's money.