Fraudsters target young adults looking to earn extra money
Young adults are twice as likely to fall victim to scams than the older generation because of their overconfidence on the internet.
People aged under 34 are most susceptible to pressure tactics adopted by scammers and willing to share their personal details online and over the phone, according to a survey of 4,000 adults by bank Marcus, part of Goldman Sachs.
It comes as millions of households have been targeted by scammers exploiting the cost-of-living crisis and money worries. Some types of fraud, such as bogus job offers and fake investment scams, have been specifically created to steal from young adults looking to earn extra money.
The study found one in five adults aged under 34 had fallen victim to a scam, compared with one in ten older adults. But they were the most confident of any age group in their ability to spot scams, with more than half stating they were “too technologically savvy” to be duped by criminals.