It could be a text message saying your bank account has been compromised. Or it’s a warning on a web browser your computer has been compromised and you need to buy a virus protector immediately.
The virtual world has become the mine-filled landscape for anyone navigating the internet, and people of all ages can get yanked in by a scam.
‘It’s not going away’
“It’s not going away — it seems to grow,” said Vee Daniel, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate.
According to the BBB, online scams grew 87% between 2015-2016 and 2021-2022. The organization reported online-purchase scams being the most prevalent, followed closely by cryptocurrency and romance-related scams.
While seniors can be especially vulnerable, given their tendency to be less internet savvy, they are by no means the only demographic to fall prey to online scams. In fact, the BBB found those between the ages of 35 and 64 reported a higher exposure to online purchase scams in 2022 than any other age groups, with at least 72% reporting exposure to scams. Those aged 18-24 reported the highest median loss in 2022, at $156 per scam.
It’s not just a few dollars that people are losing, either. Daniel knew of an Upstate couple who sent $29,000 to scammers in Huntington Beach, California. Many scammers have been known to empty a target’s entire bank account.
“There’s nothing they can do to get that money back,” Daniel…
