Scammers are more likely to target young people than seniors, according to a new survey released by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
“The typical profile of a victim of a scam in the past, it’s been elderly people, the gullible and the uneducated,” said Leah Brownridge, co-ordinator with BBB in southern Alberta. “This survey suggests it’s the millennial generation who are at greater risk for scams.
“They are online and living in a fast-paced world, where they do a lot of their day-to-day activities on a mobile (device).”
The results – which was based on a survey conducted by BBB that included more than 2,000 adults in Canada and the United States – indicated 89 per cent of seniors recognized a scam in time, compared to 66 per cent of millennials.
“Scammers are relying on people, specifically millennials, to have that attitude of, ‘This can’t happen to me’ or ‘I know how to spot a scam,’” Brownridge said. “In actuality, that’s not always the case.
“Having that invincible attitude can work against you if you are not taking the time to educate yourself on the common scams out there and the common red flags.”
According to Brownridge, those who spend time online will likely have come across some of the common scams. “Phishing” scams – attempts to acquire sensitive information such as usernames and passwords – often come in the form of official-looking emails.
“It could appear to be from Netflix or Apple, something that requests your personal information,” she said. “It looks very convincing, and (many don’t) take the time to contact that company directly in the first place. That’s what scammers look for.”
Another scam often comes in the form of job offers that seem too good to be true.
“If you’re asked to provide your (social insurance number) before you’re hired, that’s a red flag,” Brownridge said. “Or if things don’t check out, such as the address of the place or if the person isn’t willing to meet with you in person, or insane amounts of money for a simple job.”
Brownridge said scammers, however, do not discriminate to one particular age group.
“Millennials are most likely to be scammed, but it’s still everyone (who is targeted), regardless of their age,” she said. “They’re still at risk if they don’t take the time to educate themselves.”
