Victimology – Understanding Scam Victims-Survivors

Young Adults (18–29): The Digital Risk-Takers

• Who They Are: Gen Z and younger Millennials, often tech-savvy but overly trusting online.
• Why They’re Targeted: Heavy social media use (e.g., 40% of fraud losses for 18–29-year-olds start there, per FTC data), impulsive behavior, and exposure to job or investment scams.
• Common Scams: Fake job offers, crypto schemes, online shopping fraud (e.g., non-delivered goods from Instagram ads).
• Vulnerability: Comfort with digital platforms can lead to less skepticism; they’re 34% more likely than older adults to lose money to fraud (FTC, 2021).

Middle-Aged Adults (30–44): The Busy Opportunists

• Who They Are: Often professionals or parents, juggling work and life, with some disposable income.
• Why They’re Targeted: Highest scam exposure rate (e.g., 205,154 fraud cases reported in 2022, per Statista), seeking quick financial wins or convenience.
• Common Scams: Investment fraud, phishing emails, online purchase scams.
• Vulnerability: Time scarcity makes them prone to skipping due diligence; the BBB notes 35–44-year-olds lose money most often.

Older Adults (60+): The Trusting Traditionalists

• Who They Are: Retirees or near-retirees, often with savings but less digital literacy.
• Why They’re Targeted: Hold significant wealth (e.g., $2.9 billion lost annually to fraud, per MetLife), more likely to answer phone calls (41% of 80+ loss reports start with calls, FTC).
• Common Scams: Prize/sweepstakes scams, tech support fraud, romance scams.
• Vulnerability: Higher median losses ($1,500 for 80+, FTC) due to trust in authority and less scam awareness.

Low-Income Individuals: The Desperate Dreamers

• Who They Are: People with limited financial resources, often under economic stress.
• Why They’re Targeted: Scammers exploit hope for quick cash or relief (e.g., advance-fee loans).
• Common Scams: Job scams, fake grants, lottery schemes.
• Vulnerability: Financial pressure clouds judgment; less access to education about scams.

High-Income Professionals: The Confident Targets

• Who They Are: Educated, affluent individuals, often in business or tech.
• Why They’re Targeted: Bigger payouts (e.g., investment scams net $3.8 billion, FTC 2022), overconfidence in their smarts.
• Common Scams: Sophisticated investment fraud, business imposter scams.
• Vulnerability: Belief they’re too savvy to fall for it; median losses can soar when they do.

Socially Isolated Individuals: The Lonely Seekers

• Who They Are: Often elderly or introverted, craving connection regardless of age.
• Why They’re Targeted: Emotional vulnerability makes them prime for manipulation (e.g., romance scams cost $546 million in 2022, FTC).
• Common Scams: Romance scams, fake friend requests on social media.
• Vulnerability: Loneliness overrides skepticism; scammers build trust over time.

Students: The Naive Explorers

• Who They Are: College-aged or younger, often new to financial independence.
• Why They’re Targeted: Inexperience with money, targeted via school emails or social platforms.
• Common Scams: Fake scholarships, job scams, phishing for credentials.
• Vulnerability: Limited scam exposure and high trust in “official” messages; losses average $155 per scam (BBB, 2023).

Ethnic or Minority Groups: The Culturally Exploited

• Who They Are: Black, Hispanic, Asian, or immigrant communities, often with language or cultural barriers.
• Why They’re Targeted: Scammers use tailored tactics (e.g., FTC notes higher victimization rates for Black and Hispanic consumers in romance and lottery scams).
• Common Scams: Government imposter scams, community-specific fraud (e.g., fake immigration help).
• Vulnerability: Trust in community ties or fear of authority can be exploited; underreporting hides true scope.

There are more specific victim demographic groups below.