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Teens And Young Adults: Now A Major Target Of Scammers

By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Teens And Young Adults: A Major Target Of Scammers

Teenagers and young adults are increasingly becoming a major target of scammers.

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In fact, a 2022 report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that people aged 18 to 29 were more likely to report falling victim to a scam than any other age group.

What Scams Are Teens & Young Adults Typically Vulnerable To?

There are a number of reasons why teens and young adults are so vulnerable to scams. First, they are more likely to spend time online and on social media, where scammers are most active. Second, they are often less experienced with financial matters and may be more trusting of others. Third, they may be more susceptible to peer pressure and may be more willing to take risks.

Some of the most common types of scams that target teens and young adults:

  • Social media scams: Scammers often create fake social media profiles to impersonate friends, family members, or celebrities. They may then trick users into sending them money or personal information.
  • Online shopping scams: Scammers may create fake websites or social media pages that offer products or services at very low prices. However, when users order these products or services, they never receive them.
  • Financial aid scams: Scammers may promise to help students get financial aid for college in exchange for a fee. However, these scams are often fraudulent, and students may end up losing money or having their personal information stolen.
  • Student loan scams: Scammers may promise to help students lower their student loan payments or get out of debt altogether. However, these scams are often fraudulent, and students may end up losing money or having their credit damaged.
  • Employment scams: Scammers may post fake job openings or send out unsolicited job offers. They may then ask the applicant to pay a fee or provide personal information.
  • Investment scams: Scammers may promise high returns on investments in stocks, cryptocurrency, or other financial products. However, these investments are often risky or fraudulent, and investors may lose all of their money.
  • Romance scams: Scammers create fake online profiles and pose as potential romantic partners. They then build a relationship with the victim and eventually ask for money or personal information.
  • Blackmail scams: Scammers may trick teens and young adults into sharing explicit photos or videos. They then threaten to release the photos or videos unless the victim pays them money or provides other favors.
  • Tech support scams: Scammers call or email people claiming to be from a tech support company. They then convince the victim to give them remote access to their computer or device, which they then use to steal personal information or install malware.
  • Charity scams: Scammers create fake charities or solicit donations for real charities using misleading or false information.
  • Job interview scams: Scammers post fake job openings or send out unsolicited job offers. They then ask the applicant to pay a fee or provide personal information.
  • Fake gift card scams: Scammers sell fake gift cards or offer to buy gift cards for less than their face value. When the victim tries to use the gift card, it is declined.

Why Are Teens And Young Adults So Vulnerable To Scams?

There are a number of reasons why teens and young adults are so vulnerable to scams. Here are a few:

  • They are more likely to spend time online and on social media. Scammers are most active online and on social media, so teens and young adults are more likely to encounter them.
  • They are less experienced with financial matters. Teens and young adults are often just starting to learn about money and how to manage it. This can make them more vulnerable to scammers who use sophisticated financial schemes.
  • They may be more trusting of others. Teens and young adults are often more trusting of others than older adults. This is because they are still developing their critical thinking skills and may be less likely to suspect that someone is trying to scam them.
  • They may be more susceptible to peer pressure. Teens and young adults may be more likely to take risks or give out personal information if they think their peers are doing it. Scammers often use this to their advantage by creating scams that are targeted at groups of friends or acquaintances.

There are a number of psychological factors that make teens and young adults especially vulnerable to scams

  • Impulsivity: Teens and young adults are more likely to be impulsive than older adults. This means they are more likely to make decisions without thinking them through carefully, which can make them more susceptible to scams.
  • Risk-taking: Teens and young adults are also more likely to take risks than older adults. This is because they are still developing their judgment and may not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions.
  • Trustworthiness: Teens and young adults are often more trusting of others than older adults. This is because they are still developing their critical thinking skills and may be less likely to suspect that someone is trying to scam them.
  • Lack of experience: Teens and young adults are less experienced with financial matters than older adults. This can make them more vulnerable to scammers who use sophisticated financial schemes.
  • Peer pressure: Teens and young adults may be more likely to take risks or give out personal information if they think their peers are doing it. Scammers often use this to their advantage by creating scams that are targeted at groups of friends or acquaintances.

In addition to these general psychological factors, there are also some specific factors that make teens and young adults vulnerable to certain types of scams. For example, teens and young adults who are interested in gaming may be more susceptible to scams that promise free in-game currency or items. Teens and young adults who are interested in sports may be more susceptible to scams that promise tickets to sold-out events or autographed merchandise.

Teens & young adults are also especially susceptible to their cognitive biases and poorly or incompletely developed core beliefs.

It is important to note that not all teens and young adults are vulnerable to scams. However, the psychological factors listed above can make them more susceptible. Parents and caregivers can play a role in protecting teens and young adults from scams by talking to them about the dangers of scams and teaching them how to identify and avoid scams.

It is important to note that anyone can be a victim of a scam. However, teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable because of the factors listed above. Parents and caregivers can play a role in protecting teens and young adults from scams by talking to them about the dangers

Avoiding Scams That Target Teens & Young Adults

Basic Tips for teens and young adults to protect themselves from scams:

  • Be careful about who you trust online. Scammers are often very good at impersonating other people. If you receive a message from someone you don’t know, be suspicious.
  • Don’t give out personal information to strangers. This includes your Social Security number, bank account number, and credit card number.
  • Be wary of any offer that seems too good to be true. If someone is offering you a lot of money or a free product or service, it’s probably a scam.
  • Do your research before you invest in anything. Make sure you understand the risks involved and that the company or person you’re investing with is reputable.
  • If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to the FTC or your local authorities – go to reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn how.

Parents and caregivers can also play a role in protecting teens and young adults from scams. Here are some tips:

  • Talk to your teens about the dangers of scams. Make sure they know how to identify scams and what to do if they think they’ve been scammed.
  • Monitor your teens’ online activity. Be aware of the websites they visit and the people they communicate with.
  • Help your teens manage their money. Teach them about budgeting and saving, and be careful about giving them access to large amounts of money.
  • Stay informed about the latest scams. There are a number of websites and resources that provide information about scams.

By following these tips, teens and young adults can better protect themselves from scams.

More In-Depth Advice

Teens and young adults can change their behaviors to be safer online and avoid scams by:

  • Be careful about who they trust online. Scammers are often very good at impersonating other people. If you receive a message from someone you don’t know, be suspicious.
  • Be careful about what information they share online. Don’t give out personal information to strangers, such as your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number.
  • Being wary of any offer that seems too good to be true. If someone is offering you a lot of money or a free product or service, it’s probably a scam.
  • Do their research before they invest in anything. Make sure you understand the risks involved and that the company or person you’re investing with is reputable.
  • Using strong passwords and changing them regularly. This will help to protect your online accounts from being hacked.
  • Be careful about what links they click on and what attachments they open. Scammers often use malicious links and attachments to spread malware or steal personal information.
  • Keeping their software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your devices from malware.
  • Talking to their parents or other trusted adults if they think they have been scammed.

Here are some additional tips:

  • Be aware of the latest scams. Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to scam people, so it’s important to be aware of the latest scams. You can find information about the latest scams on RomanceScamsNOW.com and other consumer protection organizations.
  • Be skeptical of social media posts and messages. Scammers often use social media to spread scams. Be skeptical of any post or message that promises you something free or that asks for personal information.
  • Be careful about clicking on links in emails and text messages. Scammers often send emails and text messages with malicious links. Don’t click on any link in an email or text message unless you’re sure it’s safe.
  • Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi networks are often not secure, so it’s important to use a VPN when connecting to them. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and make it more difficult for scammers to steal your information.

By following these tips, teens and young adults can help to protect themselves from scams and stay safe online.

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PLEASE NOTE: Psychology Clarification

The following specific modalities within the practice of psychology are restricted to psychologists appropriately trained in the use of such modalities:

  • Diagnosis: The diagnosis of mental, emotional, or brain disorders and related behaviors.
  • Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals to understand and resolve unconscious conflicts.
  • Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a state of trance in which individuals are more susceptible to suggestion. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and pain.
  • Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that teaches individuals to control their bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including stress, anxiety, and pain.
  • Behavioral analysis: Behavioral analysis is a type of therapy that focuses on changing individuals’ behaviors. It is often used to treat conditions such as autism and ADHD.
    Neuropsychology: Neuropsychology is a type of psychology that focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. It is often used to assess and treat cognitive impairments caused by brain injuries or diseases.

SCARS and the members of the SCARS Team do not engage in any of the above modalities in relationship to scam victims. SCARS is not a mental healthcare provider and recognizes the importance of professionalism and separation between its work and that of the licensed practice of psychology.

SCARS is an educational provider of generalized self-help information that individuals can use for their own benefit to achieve their own goals related to emotional trauma. SCARS recommends that all scam victims see professional counselors or therapists to help them determine the suitability of any specific information or practices that may help them.

SCARS cannot diagnose or treat any individuals, nor can it state the effectiveness of any educational information that it may provide, regardless of its experience in interacting with traumatized scam victims over time. All information that SCARS provides is purely for general educational purposes to help scam victims become aware of and better understand the topics and to be able to dialog with their counselors or therapists.

It is important that all readers understand these distinctions and that they apply the information that SCARS may publish at their own risk, and should do so only after consulting a licensed psychologist or mental healthcare provider.

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