Falling For a Scam
This interactive infographic breaks down the scam process and why we’re vulnerable to them. As a business leader, you have the responsibility and opportunity to share these practical tips to help your customers avoid becoming a victim and provide the tools they need to mitigate their risk.
Scams have been around since the beginning of time.
Why Do We Fall For Scams?
Anyone can fall for a scam.
In fact, we’re wired to be more susceptible to falling for scams because they appeal to the part of the brain that regulates survival instincts, called
the reptilian brain.
The reptilian brain plays a critical role in behavior and decision making, particularly as it relates to emotional responses – and scammers are adept at appealing to those responses to manipulate their victims.
Here’s how:
Scammers are skilled at manipulating human emotions and desires to trick us into falling for their schemes.
The
Tips to Prevent Scams
Many people continue to get tricked by scammers because... their schemes still work.
The foundation of various scams remain the same – the scammer just changes their tactics.
Imposter Scams
Phishing Scams
Online Shopping Scams
Investment Scams
Job Scams
The number of job scams found on LinkedIn has increased dramatically.
Scammers use the name of legitimate companies that are hiring, and approach victims through direct messaging. They redirect job seekers to counterfeit websites and ask for personal information as part of the hiring process before an interview.
Cryptocurrency scams lead the way as many rush to invest with little knowledge.
The fascination with AI has opened the doors for scammers to promote fake programs promising massive returns in the stock market or through AI-powered investments.
Scammers, aided by AI, are able to create fake shopping websites, posing as legitimate online retailers.
These phony websites may appear high in search results because savvy scammers either purchase a position or manipulate the algorithms used by search engines.
Scammers often pose as established businesses or government agencies.
One of the most common scams involves the IRS or FBI – or when targeting seniors, the Social Security Administration – with scammers leveraging various pretenses to demand immediate payment via gift cards, credit card, or wired funds.
Phishing is the primary way that malware is delivered, data breaches are accomplished, and many scams originate.
The most common phishing emails appear to come from popular consumer services (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, banks, or email carriers).
Proactivity & Best Practices
Online Shopping Scams
Phishing Scams
How Do Scammers Trick Us?
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Encouraging and exploiting the tendency to act impulsively without taking time to rationally consider what's going on.
Creating a sense of urgency, convincing people to provide information to "prevent" dire consequences.
Posing as a trusted entity (people, companies, or government agencies), exploiting the tendency to trust authority figures.
Luring people into an investment opportunity via a common bond, such as family, religion, or other group affiliation.
Age can increase our likelihood of falling for a scam.
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Social media habits can leave anyone vulnerable to schemes.
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Older people may be more susceptible to scams due to behaviors associated with the deterioration of the brain.
A study at Cornell University saw naturally occurring changes in the brains of older people that sends an alert in risky situations, and another part of the brain that controls the ability to read social cues, making them vulnerable to exploitation.1
A study conducted at the University of Iowa also found naturally occurring changes in the prefrontal cortex of the elderly that makes people less skeptical, and therefore more likely to be victimized by a scam.2
Seniors are among those targeted the most with the average annual loss per individual senior to fraud, scams, and identity theft-related crime is a whopping $50,672.3
Extensive social media use can make us a target for scams.
The median annual loss per consumer to scams originating on social media is more than $13,076.4
Data reveals that younger adults (Gen Z, younger Millennials) are disproportionately targeted by scams originating on social media, while older adults (Baby Boomers, 65+) more commonly face phone, tech support, and impersonation scams.
These scams aren't just random messages or calls. In the US, 81% of scam attempts in the last 12 months occurred platforms with direct messaging.5
That means scams are showing up exactly where we communicate and connect the most.
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Greed will always be a scammer's ally. The promise of quick, easy money can cloud judgement – even for those who know better. And for individuals in financially desperate situations, these scams can feel less like a risk and more like a lifeline, making them especially vulnerable.
Scammers use fear to target their victims. They create phony emergencies that prompt them to act immediately without taking the time to think critically.
Urgency is another powerful tool. Scammers will claim an exclusive deal, investment, or reward is only available for a limited time – pressuring vistims to "act now" or they'll miss out forever.
Scammers also exploit our compassion and sympathy. By posing as charitable organizations or individuals in crisis, scammers tug at our heartstrings, exploiting generosity to solicit donations that never reach the people or causes they claim to support.
No matter how complex the scam, it always comes back to money.
The goal of a scam is simple.
Check for vague salutations, generic information, and misspellings in emails and texts.
Don’t click on links in emails or text messages unless it's been confirmed they are legitimate.
Check the URL.
Make sure the URL is preceded by https, not just http.
Use a credit card instead of a debit card.
Freeze your credit to prevent others from accessing your report and opening accounts in your name.
Monitor your credit reports at least monthly. Regular checks help you identify inaccuracies or fraudulent activity.
Create unique passwords for all accounts or use a password manager.
Limit the personal information you post on social media.
Don’t share personal information until you have confirmed the source.
Install and update security software on all of your devices.
Get a PIN from the IRS to help prevent the misuse of your SSN on federal tax returns.
Anatomy
The
of
T
Y
Five Common Scams
Goal
Scam
of a
Phishing Scams
Online Shopping Scams
Best Practices
Scammers are also masters of social engineering, manipulating and deceiving people into providing personal information.
Social engineering is often used in email and text messages to lure victims into clicking links or downloading attachments loaded with malware, which enables the scammer to gain access to important data, including passwords and bank account information.
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A
They adapt their tactics to paint whatever picture they believe will make us vulnerable.
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A scammer's goal is to trick people into giving them their money (or info to get to it).
Check the BBB's website for reviews before making a purchase.
At Iris® Powered by Generali, we believe that innovations like multi-factor authentication, fraud detection, identity monitoring, and scam protection solutions provide essential safeguards to consumers all over the globe. However, technology reaches its full potential when paired with informed consumers.
Openly discussing scam tactics, sharing scam experiences without shame, and reporting incidents create a collective defense that weakens scammers’ effectiveness. When consumers understand how to use protective tools and how to recognize evolving threats, we create an environment where fewer people fall victim. Let Iris help you create better and stronger security habits for your current and potential customers. Our expansive library of identity and cyber protection solutions allows brands of all sizes and types to address their audiences’ identity protection concerns and challenges. With Iris, you can deliver a unique identity and scam protection experience via a dedicated portal or integrated into your consumer-facing digital experience via API.
Contact us today to start building your perfect identity and scam protection experience.
1 The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 72, Issue 10, 1 October 2017, Pages 1365–1368
https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx051
2 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2012.00100/full#h4
3 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Elder Fraud Report, 2022-2024
4 Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, 2022-2024
5 Global Anti-Scam Alliance, State of Scams in the United States of America, 2025
At Iris® Powered by Generali, we believe that innovations like multi-factor authentication, fraud detection, identity monitoring, and scam protection solutions provide essential safeguards to consumers all over the globe. However, technology reaches its full potential when paired with informed consumers.
Openly discussing scam tactics, sharing scam experiences without shame, and reporting incidents create a collective defense that weakens scammers’ effectiveness. When consumers understand how to use protective tools and how to recognize evolving threats, we create an environment where fewer people fall victim.