It might sound surprising and they certainly wouldn’t admit it but according to Barclays, 21-30 year olds are the most likely to fall for scams, in particularly through online social media platforms, marketplaces and dating apps.
Purchase scams, where people buy goods which never arrive or aren’t as advertised, are by far the most common type of scam – accounting for more than half of all scams in the last three months. The likelihood of falling for this type of scam decreases significantly with age, with 21-30 year olds being fifteen times more likely to be a victim compared with those aged over 70.
It sounds like younger people are a lot more trusting of online platforms than the older generations but is it surprising when younger people are being raised with and around technology?
With smartphones amongst the most common type of item fraudsters advertise, and over half (55 per cent) of 21-30 year olds planning on purchasing a new one this summer, Barclays is warning people to be wary of ‘too good to be true offers’. Buyers can protect themselves by making purchases on legit marketplaces or websites.
Many people picture an elderly person when they think of a scam victim, and whilst it’s true that older people are more likely to fall for higher value scams, the most common type of scams are where people are tricked into buying something they never receive.
“The best advice is if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers usually offer items for significantly lower than its value to lure you in – stop and question why any legitimate seller would do this. Check the seller’s website and be wary of anyone asking for a bank transfer rather than a debit or credit card transaction, as legitimate sellers don’t usually do this.
– Ross Martin, Head of Digital Safety at Barclays
