It would be a great thing for the world if scammers could put their time, energy, persistence, and creativity into something positive. Unfortunately, they don’t, and their tactics just keep getting increasingly convincing. Scams are no longer limited to suspicious emails or obviously fake phone calls. Today, fraudsters use texts, fake websites, social media, artificial intelligence, voice cloning, and stolen personal details to make their schemes feel legitimate.
In many cases, scammers are not trying to “hack” your account. Instead, they are trying to pressure you into giving them direct access or sharing sensitive information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $16 billion to fraud in 2025, which is about 25% more than in 2024. Imposter scams remained the most frequently reported fraud category, with losses totaling about $3.5 billion.
Current Scam Trends to Watch For
Phishing and Smishing: Scammers send emails or texts pretending to be from a bank, government agency, delivery service, retailer, or other trusted organization. These messages often include links to fake websites designed to steal passwords, account numbers, credit card information, or Social Security numbers.
Fake Delivery, Toll, Missed Court Date, and Traffic Texts: Fraudsters may claim you owe an unpaid toll, missed a package delivery, missed a court date with a fine attached or a warrant issued, or have a traffic violation. These messages often include links or QR codes meant to steal personal or financial information.
Bank Impersonation: Scammers may pretend to be from your bank’s fraud department and claim your account is at risk. They may ask you to verify a code, provide account information, download an app, or move money to a “safe” account. A legitimate bank will not ask you to transfer money to protect it.
Family Emergency and AI Voice Scams: The old “grandparent scam” has become more sophisticated. Fraudsters may pretend to be a child, grandchild, friend, or coworker in trouble. Some now use artificial intelligence to clone voices, making the call sound believable. They may tell you that your loved one is currently being held in jail, or is in some other kind of trouble that requires immediate payment of some sort to help them out of trouble. These scammers will typically tell you that the matter is urgent and requires immediate action on your part.
Romance, Relationship, and Investment Scams: Fraudsters build trust through dating apps, messaging platforms, or even a “wrong number” text. Over time, they may ask for money or introduce a fake investment opportunity, often involving cryptocurrency.
Tech Support, Job, Prize, and QR Code Scams: Be cautious of anyone who asks for remote access to your device, says you won a prize but must pay some fee first, offers easy remote work that requires you to deposit money, or asks you to scan an unexpected QR code.
Simple Ways to Protect Yourself
The scams may evolve over time, but the best ways to protect yourself are often simple. Be cautious about unexpected requests for personal information, one-time passcodes, online banking credentials, or urgent payments. If something feels unusual, slow down and verify it through your financial institution or your Central Trust Advisor. Most importantly, remember that a legitimate bank, government agency, or law enforcement officer will not ask you to move money to “protect” it.
It can also help to put a few safeguards in place before a scam ever happens. Consider creating a family code word to verify emergency calls, especially as AI voice scams become more common. Talk to someone you trust before sending money or personal information to anyone, and keep your passwords, account alerts, and multifactor authentication up to date. If something feels off, trust your instinct and take time to verify before responding. You can always tell the caller you need to hang up and will call them back. From there, take a moment to find the official phone number for the organization they say they’re with, and reach out directly. Ask a representative to confirm whether they actually contacted you. If the call was legitimate, they’ll be able to look it up and verify it for you.
What To Do If You Are Targeted
If you fall victim to a scam, don’t be embarrassed. Scammers are professionals, they are constantly learning how to improve their scams, and anyone can be a target, young or old. The most important thing is to act quickly. Contact your bank, credit card company, financial advisor, or Central Trust Advisor as soon as possible so they can help you determine the next steps.
You may also consider filing a police report, contacting your state attorney general’s office, reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission, or filing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Afterward, continue monitoring your accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activity, and consider placing a fraud alert or freezing your credit if your personal information was exposed.
Scams are ever-changing, but slowing down, asking questions, and verifying unusual requests can make a big difference.
