Younger adults in UK now main targets for online scams, social media and AI cited as drivers

The useful part

Young Brits three times more likely to be targeted by scams than grandparents. ‌ Social media platforms and messaging apps proved to be the principal gateway for fraudsters, accounting for 41% of scam encounters amongst under-25s, compared to just 7% via email. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were responsible for 11% of approaches each, with bogus giveaways, fraudulent influencer promotions and gaming scams posing the greatest dangers.

How it works

• ‌ "It's concerning to see how wide the protection gap is becoming, particularly for younger people whose finances, identities and day-to-day lives are increasingly managed online.
• Don't be fooled by a familiar face – Even convincing celebrity endorsements or influencer recommendations can be fake, so always research investment opportunities independently before parting with cash.
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• ‌ View 3 Images Two thirds of young people have been targeted by a scam (Image:
• Getty Images) ‌ Amongst 25-to-34-year-olds who fell victim, 21% were caught out by fake investment schemes — including fraudulent cryptocurrency, trading and NFT opportunities — costing victims an average...

What to take from it

‌ "This is not a niche problem – it is a crisis that is scaling by the month, and the people being hit hardest are the ones everyone assumed were safe." View 3 Images Many are targeted online through social media apps (Image: Getty Images) The emergence of artificial intelligence has also dramatically heightened the risk of falling victim to scams. ‌ One in five (20%) young adults aged 18 to 24 had already come across scam deepfake videos, and 12% received voice calls mimicking people they knew.

Example or evidence

• "Fraud in this country is evolving fast," said Alex Wood a reformed scammer turned counter-fraud advisor.
• "Social media has given criminals a direct line into the lives of millions of young people, and AI is making every scam more convincing, more personalised, and harder to identify.
• Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed felt AI made scams far more convincing, while 38% believed defensive tools were failing to keep pace with advancing technology.
• The study also found phone theft can leave victims vulnerable long after their handset had been stolen.

Details worth keeping

The Mirror ‌ ‌ Skip to main content Young Brits three times more likely to be targeted by scams than grandparents Young Brits are more likely to be targeted by online scams than over-65s, with social media platforms a main gateway for fraudsters. A study of 3,000 UK adults, commissioned by insurer SquareTrade, discovered that 61% of 25-to-34-year-olds and 59% of 18-to-24-year-olds were personally targeted by a scam — nearly triple the 20% rate reported by those aged over 65. "Fake investment schemes can now be generated in minutes.

Related coverage

• Oxfordmail: A study by Oxford Information Labs (OXIL) challenges the common belief that older people are most at risk of scams.
• Paymentsdive: It's not just the elderly being drawn into fraud. Young people are also increasingly prey for financial crime, according to a Federal Reserve report.
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