21% of Financial Scams Originate on Social Media

A recent PYMNTS and Featurespace report highlights a rise in financial scams, with 21% starting on social media. Scammers now use sophisticated, targeted tactics, mimicking legitimate businesses to deceive victims.

The study, How Scammers Tailor Financial Scams to Individual Consumer Vulnerabilities, reveals that fraudsters personalize scams based on victims' data, making them highly convincing. Over the past five years, 77 million U.S. consumers—30% of the population—have reported financial losses, often exceeding $500.

Key findings from the report:

• Gen Z Job Scams: Young professionals are three times more likely than older generations to fall for fraudulent job listings, with 8% reporting losses.

• eCommerce Fraud Targets Seniors: Baby boomers and seniors are over three times as likely as Gen Z to be victims of fake online shopping scams.

• Scammers Exploit Digital Channels: Social media and email serve as primary contact points, with 42% of eCommerce scams starting online and 39% of debt collection scams via phone calls.

Scammers manipulate victims by posing as trusted entities, using threats, or offering financial incentives. Younger individuals face a broader range of deceptive tactics, proving that scammers adapt based on perceived vulnerabilities.

To counter these threats, financial institutions must leverage advanced analytics and behavioral monitoring to detect fraudulent activities. Educating consumers through scenario-based training is also crucial in preventing scams and restoring trust in financial systems.

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