As technology has continued to evolve at a more and more accelerated pace in recent years, online scams have become more sophisticated than ever.
A few of the most effective scams of recent years have used deepfake technology, which employs both AI and deep learning to recreate everything from human voices to convincing videos.
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But while these are some of the most troubling, they aren’t the only ones out there. These are five of the top scams of 2025 to watch out for.
1. Employment scams
It’s likely that at some point this year, you’ve gotten a text message or two from a person identifying themselves as a recruiter and offering you a too-good-to-be-true job.
For instance, a few weeks ago, I got one that said it was from Tesla and offered a work-at-home position that paid very well for very few hours of work per day. Texts like this are especially insidious at the moment, as the job market is notoriously difficult right now and a lot of people are searching for work.
If you’ve gotten one of these texts, look out for a few key things that identify it as a scam. If it tells you you need to pay to complete an application or gain access to the job, that’s a red flag.
Another sign it’s fake is being casually asked for private information like your social security number. Never give out private information.
Lastly, try to determine whether the person contacting you works for the company or if the job being offered is listed on their website. If it isn’t, you’re likely caught up in a scam.
Related: FBI sounds the alarm on elder fraud
2. Toll fee scam
Another text message-based scam, this one involves receiving texts that say you owe a fee for a toll and may include a link to pay said fee.
The Federal Trade Commission reported on this scam back in January, saying that the texts are fake and a way for scammers to try to gain access to your identity as well as get you to pay them money.
The best way to handle these scams is to avoid clicking any links (which is good advice for any scam, no matter what type it is). The FTC advises that consumers “reach out to the state’s tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text.”
You can also use your phone to report the texts as spam, or forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).
3. Jury duty scam
We all tend to react the moment we hear we’ve been called to serve jury duty, but you may want to pause and make sure it’s not a scam this time.
This scam may come in the form of a text or an email and be from a person claiming to be a U.S. Marshal or police officer. It leans into fear by telling you that you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you submit a payment.
A few tips on this scam: Courts do not ask you to pay or submit sensitive information over the phone. You also are required to be served a summons to appear for jury duty, so if you never got one, this is a scam.
The best thing to do here is ignore the email or text and flag it as spam.
Related: How one deepfake revenge porn victim is changing the system
4. Cryptocurrency scams
As the popularity of cryptocurrency continues to grow, scams in the space have also gotten more frequent — and with devastating consequences.
Nearly 9,000 complaints about crypto scams from people age 50-59 were reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023, with a total loss of more than $900 million.
These scammers show up in different places: dating apps, social media, messaging apps and more, promising big returns and little risk. Once people invest, they’re charged huge fees if they try to withdraw, or the money vanishes altogether.
If you’re concerned about a scam, check to see if the business is registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association. Much like the employment scam, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
5. Tech support scams
This scam has been around a while but unfortunately continues to thrive — the FTC reported that it cost older Americans $175 million in 2023.
Another fear-propelled scam, this one may come in the form of a call, email, or pop-up message telling you that your computer has a virus. If you call the number and are asked to allow remote support to your computer, it’s a scam that allows thieves access to your machine and the ability to install malware.
If you are concerned that the message is real, do not call the number or click the pop-up, and do not share your password. Instead, try restarting your computer, or if you’re really worried, contact a reliable tech store or computer repair service to come take a look at it.
Related: What is a deepfake? Everything you need to know about the controversial AI technology
Great Job Colette Bennett & the Team @ TheStreet Source link for sharing this story.
