The Psychology Behind Online Scams: What 2025 Data Is Telling Us

Andy Porter
Jun 4
5 min read

Online scams aren’t just a tech issue anymore—they’re a behavioral one. Scammers are learning how we think, not just how we click. In 2025, the line between authentic and fake has become thinner than ever, and unfortunately, plenty of people are still getting caught off guard. This piece takes a closer look at what’s driving that—and what the numbers say.

The Numbers: Scams Are Hitting Harder Than Before

Let’s start with something concrete. Last year, fraud reports to the Federal Trade Commission totaled more than $12.5 billion in losses. That’s not just a spike—it’s a 25% increase from the year before. Even more telling? The portion of reports that involved real financial loss jumped from 27% to 38%. That suggests scammers aren’t just trying more often; they’re getting better at it.

This isn’t only a U.S. issue. Over in Africa, Interpol’s Operation Red Card ended with more than 300 arrests tied to cyber scams. And in a separate, coordinated effort across 19 countries, authorities stopped a wave of cybercrime that could’ve cost nearly $200 million (Interpol joint operation).

How Scammers Actually Trick People

People don’t fall for scams because they’re careless. Scammers are good at making things feel personal, urgent, and real. The psychology they rely on is surprisingly consistent.

1. Playing with Emotions

Fear, excitement, guilt—whatever gets you to stop thinking logically. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency points to things like fake fraud alerts or high-paying “quick tasks” as examples. They’re designed to stir up strong reactions, which can cloud your judgment even if you’re usually cautious.

2. Creating Pressure

If you’ve ever felt like you had to make a decision right this second, that’s by design. Scammers don’t want you to think it through. According to Action Fraud UK, urgency tactics helped scammers steal £11 million in holiday-related fraud last year alone.

3. Pretending to Be in Charge

Messages that look like they’re from a company exec or a government body tend to get more attention. That’s still one of the most common methods out there. The UK National Cyber Security Centre found that in 2024, around 40% of phishing emails aimed at businesses were AI-generated to sound like internal communications.

4. Telling People What They Want to Hear

It’s easier to convince someone when the message already matches their expectations. That’s why a lot of investment scams succeed—they don’t seem suspicious because they confirm what the person hopes is true. These scams added up to $5.7 billion in losses in 2024, per FTC data.

How AI Is Changing the Game

Scams have gone way beyond bad grammar and pixelated logos. In 2025, artificial intelligence is making scams faster to create and harder to catch.

Smarter phishing: Emails can now mimic a friend or coworker so well, they’re almost indistinguishable. The CISA warns that this kind of phishing is becoming more common and more convincing.
Deepfakes: These aren’t just novelties anymore. Biometric Update says deepfake-based identity fraud made up 40% of biometric fraud attempts last year. One scam used fake audio and video to impersonate a company’s CFO—resulting in a $25 million loss (FBI IC3 report).
Mass attacks with little effort: With AI tools, a single scammer can reach thousands. The SANS Institute reports that automated phishing attacks grew by 80% in 2024 alone.

Who’s Actually Getting Scammed?

It’s not just retirees. The idea that scams mainly target older adults doesn’t reflect what’s really going on.

Seniors (60+) are certainly vulnerable—especially to crypto scams and romance fraud. They made up 32% of U.S. romance scam victims, according to the Romance Scams Resource Center.
Younger adults, especially Gen Z and millennials, are getting hit too. The Identity Theft Resource Center says people aged 20–39 filed the most identity theft claims in 2022. And BBB data shows that Gen Z is three times more likely to fall for job search scams than baby boomers.
Scam type matters. Older adults are more likely to get caught by fake online shops, while men—regardless of age—are more likely to be targeted by sextortion scams.

Socioeconomic status is another factor. Lower-income households often face greater risks, especially when it comes to identity theft. Immigrants, too, are more vulnerable simply because they might not be familiar with how things typically work in their new country (Identity Theft Resource Center).

The Biggest Scam Types This Year

Here’s what’s been most common (and most costly) in 2025 so far:

Investment scams – Still the worst, pulling in $5.7 billion in reported losses (FTC).
Impersonation scams – Cost people $2.95 billion, with government imposters up by $171 million over 2023.
Smishing (text message scams) – These include fake package updates and job offers.
Job and task scams – Reports have tripled since 2020. Many promise quick cash for simple tasks—then disappear.
Ticket scams – The UK saw a 50% increase, losing nearly £10 million to fake ticket sales (Action Fraud).

What Can You Actually Do About It?

We’re all online every day, so here’s how to lower your risk—whether you’re managing a business or just scrolling through emails on your lunch break.

If You're an Individual:

Treat unexpected messages with caution, especially ones that try to rush you.
Don’t rely on what the message looks like—always check independently.
Take a beat before acting on any “urgent” offer.
Stay updated on how scams evolve; they change more often than people think.

If You're Part of a Company:

Use security tools that detect unusual patterns or AI-generated text.
Train staff to flag suspicious emails—even if they look internal.
Have clear approval processes for payments or sensitive information.
Make it easy for people to report issues without feeling like they’ll be blamed.

What’s Coming Next

Cybercrime is turning into a business model—and not a small one. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates scammers are bringing in tens of billions annually, globally. And with “scam kits” now available to buy, the barrier to entry has dropped significantly.

There’s no perfect fix here. But better awareness, smarter tech, and international cooperation can slow things down. The more we understand how these schemes work—psychologically and technically—the better chance we have of avoiding them.