Scams affect people of all ages and backgrounds, but research shows that certain demographics tend to be more vulnerable to scams than others. Understanding who’s most at risk can help raise awareness so that people can better protect themselves.
The Elderly
Senior citizens are a primary target for scammers. There are a few key reasons why:
- Many elderly people live on fixed incomes and have nest eggs, making them potentially lucrative targets.
- Seniors are less likely to question things or do additional research, which scammers exploit.
- Some elderly people experience cognitive decline, making it harder to identify scams.
- Loneliness and isolation may make some seniors more susceptible to scams that provide a sense of companionship.
According to an AARP study, people over 50 account for 57% of all money lost to telephone scams. The most common scams targeting seniors include:
- IRS scams – Fake calls threatening arrest for tax debts and demanding immediate payment.
- Tech support scams – Calls claiming viruses on computers and offering to fix the issue for a fee.
- Romance scams – Building online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money.
- Grandparent scams – Urgent calls pretending to be a relative in need of money.
Young Adults
While the elderly are often targets for certain scams, younger adults also have characteristics that make them vulnerable:
- Lack of life experience and financial literacy.
- Willingness to engage with strangers online and trust new connections.
- Active social media use exposing them to scammers.
Some scams aimed at younger people include:
- Employment scams – Listings for fake jobs that require upfront fees or personal information.
- Phishing scams – Emails and texts pretending to be legitimate companies to steal login credentials and financial information.
- Rental scams – Fake listings for properties that don’t exist, often requesting upfront cash.
- Romance scams – Similar to those targeting seniors. Scammers build relationships and eventually ask for money.
According to a 2019 Better Business Bureau study, millennials lost money to scams more often than older generations, typically to online purchase scams.
Those in Financial Distress
People experiencing financial hardship or sudden economic changes may also be vulnerable to scams offering quick cash and prizes:
- Unemployed individuals looking for work.
- People facing foreclosures or struggling with medical bills.
- Those with excessive student loan or credit card debt.
Common scams targeting this group include:
- Advance fee loan scams – Promises of loans in exchange for upfront fees that are pocketed without providing an actual loan.
- Fake checks – Scammers send fake checks and tell recipients to deposit them and return a portion before the checks bounce.
- Lottery and sweepstakes scams – Requests to pay taxes and fees before receiving large fake prizes.
- Work from home scams – Offers of jobs stuffing envelopes or other activities requiring upfront payments.
People under financial stress are often so focused on getting relief from their situations that they can fail to identify red flags or warning signs.
Those with Language Barriers
Individuals who don’t speak English fluently or at all are prime targets since language barriers make them more vulnerable:
- They may not understand the sales tactics or lies used by scammers.
- They often rely on family and friends rather than banks for financial services, sometimes without paperwork involved.
- Cultural or governmental distrust may make them less likely to report fraud to authorities.
- New immigrants may not be familiar with common scams in their new country.
Some common scams aimed at non-English speakers include:
- Utility scams – Threats to cut off utilities like power or water unless immediate payment is made.
- Fake immigration services – Offers to help speed up work visas or citizenship applications for a fee.
- Fake credit repair – Companies promising to fix credit reports for an advance fee.
- Investment fraud – Pushy brokers targeting recent immigrants with fake investment opportunities.
Language barriers make it harder to conduct research, ask questions, and verify claims, which scammers use to their advantage.
Other High-Risk Groups
Beyond the groups above, other populations may face increased risk of scams as well:
- Military members – Scams involving promises of loans, debt relief services, and employment upon returning from service.
- Singles – Romance scams and catfishing by con artists pretending to be interested romantic partners.
- Small business owners – Scams offering loans, quick revenue, or promising new customers and business.
- Minorities – Racial profiling by scammers assuming increased vulnerability.
- New parents – Scams playing on fears about providing for babies and wanting the best products.
Conclusion
In the end, scammers target people of all types, often focusing on those most vulnerable. Some keys signs make a person more prone to scams, such as age, language barriers, financial needs, or trusting personalities. However, awareness and caution are the best defenses. Checking with trusted friends, doing research, and never sending money or personal information to strangers can help anyone avoid falling victim to scams.