Real strategies to spot and avoid scams.
Scams are evolving. They are no longer restricted to a few suspicious phone calls or a hastily written email from a so-called foreign prince. Today, scams are sophisticated, omnipresent, and target everyone. From young online shoppers to older adults managing their daily responsibilities.
As technological advances bring us convenience, scammers are honing their tactics, finding new ways to exploit trust, emotion, and urgency. Understanding these scams and how to defend against them is crucial for protecting both your finances and your self-esteem.
Building a Culture of Trust & Accountability
Marketplace trust is essential. Services that help consumers vet businesses—by offering transparent profiles, customer reviews, complaint histories, and proof of accreditation—play a huge role in helping individuals make safe choices.
When searching for builders, movers, insurers, or any service provider, reviewing honest feedback about a company’s customer service and how they resolve issues is as important as the service itself. Not only does this system highlight trusted companies, but it also provides critical context about how businesses respond when things go wrong.
The Many Faces of Scams
Scams have multiplied and diversified. The most common ones making the rounds today include:
- Online Purchase Scams: Fake websites, counterfeit products, and offers that are too good to be true.
- Phishing & Impersonation: Deceptive emails, texts, and calls designed to extract personal information or payments.
- Sweepstakes and Prize Scams: Notices that you’ve “won” something, but must pay a fee or provide gift cards to claim your prize.
- Employment and Government Grant Scams: Offers that require “upfront” payments.
- Fake Tech Support and Debt Collection: Threatening messages pushing for immediate and unusual payments.
The financial impact is staggering: hundreds of thousands lost, often by those most vulnerable. Notably, 38% of scam reports come from people over 65, and women are more likely to report having been scammed.
Why Do These Scams Succeed?
Scammers prey on emotional triggers—panic, urgency, isolation, and financial stress. Warning signs that someone might be caught in a scam include sudden secrecy about purchases, repeated withdrawals, buying multiple gift cards, and becoming withdrawn or evasive.
Often, scammers will press their victims to act quickly and avoid telling anyone else. They’ll accompany them (virtually) through every step, making the scam seem plausible and persistent, even as red flags pile up.
How Scams are Delivered—and Why Phone Calls are Still Dangerous
While unsolicited phone calls remain a top method for scams, emails, texts, and social media are now just as likely to be the point of contact. Call blocking and registering on the national Do Not Call List remain helpful, but scam calls are relentless and increasingly sophisticated.
For many, especially older adults juggling complex healthcare, not answering every unknown call simply isn’t an option.
Tools, Resources, and Solutions
Robust scam-tracking platforms now let consumers both report and read about scams in their area. By sharing your experience, you not only document what happened to you but also help others recognize and avoid similar traps.
These community-driven databases can be searched by company name, keywords, or even by details of the scam to see if others have encountered something similar.
Annual scam studies and risk reports help identify emerging scam trends, who is being targeted, and which scams are causing the greatest harm. Law enforcement and advocacy organizations use this information to focus prevention and enforcement efforts where they’re needed most.
Tips to Stay Safe
Practical strategies for scam prevention include:
- If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is—especially for trademarked or high-demand items.
- Stick to reputable, known websites and avoid making purchases through social media ads or links.
- Use traceable payments, especially branded credit cards, which come with fraud protection. Avoid wire transfers, prepaid cards, and gift cards for payments.
- Be skeptical of unsolicited requests—whether by phone, email, or text—that pressure you to act quickly or provide personal information.
- Carefully check URLs and email addresses for subtle changes—just one extra letter can make a fake site appear legitimate.
- When in doubt, pause. Don’t feel pressured to act immediately. If someone reaches out, offer a polite but firm, “I will make my own purchasing decisions, thank you,” and hang up.
- Report scams to local and national resources—the more information shared, the better everyone’s chances of avoiding the next con.
Final Thoughts on Protecting Yourself from Scams
Scams rely on secrecy, urgency, and trust. By fostering greater awareness, vigilance, and communication within communities, we can all play a role in reducing their impact. Always remember: if you’re ever uncertain, take a moment to check, double-check, and ask for help.
This blog post is inspired by ideas and guidance shared during a thoughtful discussion with a guest expert in consumer protection and scam awareness, Lee Anne Lanigan, Director of Consumer Relations & Investigations – Better Business Bureau Serving Central Ohio.
Important facts:
*Online purchases were the number one scam for Central Ohio consumers, as well as nationally.
*Nationally, online retail fraud losses approached $380M in 2022. Online purchases include everything from puppies, trademark merch like MLB jerseys, women’s clothing, CBD products, and weight loss products. Here is that study.
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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants.
Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson
