New studies show that millenials are the most susceptible to phone and Internet scams. The common assumption was that the elderly generations would be most susceptible. Despite growing up in a digital world, millenials fall into the digital traps more often. While it is true that adults over the age of 55 get more calls from phony charities and tax scammers, millennials often end up losing more of their money – or in some cases their identity.
One key cog in this wheel is that there is a lack of understanding of online behaviors is to blame. More and more tracking algorithms and surveys are being implemented to study these behaviors. Adults over the age of 55 are more attuned to what the consequences of their behavior will lead to down the road whether it is in the online environment or not. They also did not have the benefit of growing up at a time with the technology we have now so their influence is not as affected by it as ours.
Astonishing Percentages of Millenial Falling for Scams
According to a study run by TruCaller, it was estimated that 38 percent of a survey of 11,000 people were victim to an online or phone scam. That is approximately 4,180 people who lost their money and for some their identity. That number is disproportionate to the number of millenials on the planet; however, the trend is such that millenials are targeted more often.
Scammers don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach for every area of millenials they target. They are staggered and range everywhere from the ideologue to the social media obsessed to the business entrepreneur and everything in between. In any case, millenials are being targeted and their social and phone behaviors are known to the scammers.
Be aware of your activity, but more specifically, be aware of what you’re listening to and reading. A little discernment can prevent you from being a victim.