It would be fantastic to live in a world where everyone could enjoy the wonders of modern technology—like texting with overseas friends, shopping for new shoes online, or streaming the latest blockbuster movie—without worrying about someone trying to steal our information or money. Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in.

Scammers are constantly thinking up more innovative and effective ways to steal from you and those you hold dear, knowing no bounds when targeting the most vulnerable within our communities. So, who are they targeting now? Everyone.

Download NCOA's Scams Prevention Toolkit

Who do scams affect?

Modern media tends to emphasize the heartbreaking impacts of financial scams and online deception schemes on the older adult population specifically. But people of all ages are targeted by scammers and can fall for their traps, severely impacting their lives and their loved ones. According to 2022 and 2023 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), people under the age of 50 accounted for around 61% of all scam reports.

• 29 and under: 18%
• 30 to 49: 43%
• 50 to 59: 16%
• 60 and above: 23%

Why are young adults targeted by online scammers?

A significant reason for the high proportion of online scams targeting young people is their internet activity. According to a 2023 study by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, 69% of Gen Z individuals claim to be “always connected” to the internet, compared to:

• Millennials (born 1981-1996): 64%
• Gen X (born 1965-1980): 47%
• Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964): 32%
• Silent Generation (born 1928-1945): 24%

Increased internet use increases the chances of encountering scammers, making navigation of the digital world risky. Scammers know this well, taking advantage of unsuspecting youth and young adults online. Young people use the internet in various ways, including researching for school or work, for entertainment through streaming services or applications like YouTube, and for social connection and communication through social media. In this way, the internet encompasses many crucial aspects of young people’s lives in devices that are nearly constantly accessible.

While many believe that more internet use leads to greater digital literacy, this is not necessarily true. Young people who have grown up alongside advancing technology may be overconfident in their abilities to protect themselves and their private information online. Young adults also tend to believe that they will not be victims of scams because “only older adults fall for scams,” which perpetuates a stigma that is not supported by statistics. Young adults can be even more vulnerable to online scams than older adults.

These false beliefs damage our communities by not only ostracizing older adults and painting them as inept at safe online engagement, but also by consistently placing our future generations directly in the path of swindlers without sufficient protective shields.

That is why recognizing scams and employing effective strategies when a scam is spotted is essential for safe online activity at any age.

Which scam methods typically target young adults?

Understanding the tactics scammers use to deceive people is the first step in protecting others in your life. General scam tactics include:

• Posing as someone trustworthy, like an employee or hiring manager at a well-known company or government agency.
• Creating a sense of urgency or fear by demanding immediate payment for unpaid bills or other fictitious claims with the threat of legal action.
• Using untraceable payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate government agencies and businesses would not ask you to pay for anything via these methods.

While many other scam methods exist, here are a couple designed with young people in mind:

• Retired people may not be as vulnerable to a fraud method like job scamming, but their children or grandchildren looking for employment might be. This method typically follows these steps: ​
  • Scammers will post fictitious ads on popular job websites and social media.
  • They promise high pay and a very flexible or remote schedule to entice potential victims.
  • Once someone applies, they may ask for payment for training courses or start-up equipment that are necessary for this job. Though they frame this as a part of the job onboarding process, the scammers are truly requesting the funds to steal money.
  • They may also ask for private information to be ‘added to the payroll’ to sell this information or steal the applicant’s identity.
• Another common scam type targeting young adults is an investment or cryptocurrency scam. This scamming method preys on the aspirations of our youth, typically using these tactics:
  • Scammers advertise investment opportunities via social media, text, or email.
  • They will guarantee significant returns with little to no financial risk.
  • They will not disclose where the money is being invested and will avoid sharing any information about how the investment is doing.
  • They will also typically ask for an initial investment via cryptocurrency, which is NOT a government-protected or refundable form of payment.

How to stay safe and protect the young adults in your life

If you finished this article feeling anxious about the safety of your loved ones, don’t! You have already completed step one in a secure internet engaging life!

To continue to protect yourself, stay educated on the common methods scammers use through publicly available websites like the FTC and with free tools such as DART resources, DART Academy, and DeepCover.

The best way to protect young adults in your life is to stay informed and spread awareness. Make a point to talk to the young people in your life about how to safeguard your personal information to protect yourself from scammers. Ask them about scams they know about and tell them about ones you or your friends have seen. Although your loved ones may not know how scammers are evolving to target them, using the websites and tools above can help you keep your family and friends safe.

Finally, if you or someone you know has been a victim of online deception, reporting your experience to the FTC can help stop scammers and protect potential victims from online deception.