‘It Seemed so Real’ The Ever Present Danger of Scammers

The holiday season is creeping ever closer — it will have snuck up before you know it — and among the strings of lights going up and cheerful promotions filling your inbox a darker seasonal pattern returns: scammers.

While scammers “work” year-round, they certainly ramp up during the holiday season, sending polished text messages, placing deceptive calls, and creating false social media accounts to target older adults. What begins as a friendly-seeming message or urgent warning can end in life-altering financial losses — especially for seniors.

What are the facts?

In 2024, consumers reported losses of $16.6 billion to internet-enabled scams — a 33 percent increase over the previous year. It’s also important to note that these losses are not always reported, which means the actual losses are probably even higher. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints, of which 256,256 involved actual financial losses. In many cases, victims over 60 were among the hardest hit.

Phishing, spoofing and extortion topped the list of complaint types, while crypto-enabled fraud surged. In Texas alone, 2024 saw $1.35 billion in reported losses to internet crime — making the state one of the highest in both complaints and total loss figures. Older adults (60+) logged 147,127 complaints in 2024, collectively losing $4.9 billion — the highest losses reported for any age group.

The FTC also reports that in 2024, $12.5 billion in consumer fraud losses were logged nationally, a 25 percent rise year over year. The number of complaints stayed roughly constant, but the share of people reporting actual losses increased sharply. All of these stats to say if you or someone you love have fallen prey to a scam, you’re not alone.

Why do scammers target seniors and why more so in the holiday season?

Scammers favor older adults for a whole host of reasons: they are often viewed as more trusting or more likely to comply with authoritative requests and may be less familiar with evolving digital tools and security practices. The holidays bring emotional pressure, increased online shopping, and urgency — all tools scammers are more than happy to exploit.

How do they get you?

According to the IC3, two of the most damaging fraud categories targeting older adults are tech support scams (in which the scammer claims there is a computer or device problem) and government impersonation scams (posing as IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement).

Scammers also exploit spoofing (making your caller ID say whatever they want) or use social media and Facebook pages to advertise fake offers or charitable campaigns. In some cases, they reuse personal data (birthdays, names, hometowns) gleaned from social media to bolster believability.

During the holidays, urgency is introduced: “You must act now for your package,” “Your account is compromised,” or “This special deal ends tonight.” These messaging tricks push recipients to throw caution to the wind, then hits them in the wallet.

What to watch for: Common Scam Patterns Impersonation via calls or texts: Scammers claim to be with Social Security, IRS, or a bank, demanding payment or verification of data.

Smishing / phishing links: Texts or emails ask you to click a link to “fix a problem,” which often leads to a credential-harvesting or malware site.

Fake social media listings, fund-raiser appeals or Marketplace scams: Offers that ask you to pay via wire, gift card, or crypto.

Tech support / virus scare calls: A caller warns your device is infected and says you must pay to fix it.

Investment and cryptocurrency schemes: Promises of guaranteed returns or digital asset windfalls — often pitched to older people who may be seeking income later in life.

Advice for Seniors, Families, and Communities Pause and verify. Never feel pressured to act immediately. Hang up, then independently look up the official organization’s number and call back. Legitimate agencies will never demand payment by gift cards, crypto, or immediate transfers.

Treat unsolicited texts like you would suspicious emails. Don’t tap links or enter login information. Use official apps or websites to verify claims.

Use multi-factor authentication and strong, unique passwords. That way, even if login credentials are compromised, attackers find it harder to access accounts.

Set up account alerts and monitor statements closely. Many banks allow you to set low-balance or unusual transaction alerts.

Maintain open conversations about scams. Educate and encourage seniors to consult family, friends or trusted community members before sending money.

Report suspicious incidents.

Encourage victims or even near-victims to file complaints with IC3, the FTC, and local law enforcement — the data helps law enforcement identify patterns and possibly intervene before someone else falls prey to the same scam.

Where does this leave us?

Scammers are constantly evolving. They combine personal data, with a sense of urgency and technology to push victims into making a potentially dangerous mistake — particularly for vulnerable communities with limited disposable income. While many losses may go unreported, the numbers above already paint a stark picture of an already massive — and constantly growing — threat.

At the local level, in counties like Falls where we might not have easy access to precise numbers — the scammers tactics will still align with the national trends and the holiday season still offers more opportunities for them to exploit trusting people. Vigilance, education, and community support are essential.

To find out more about local resources, you can login to the Falls County Sheriff’s Office app where there are links to resources for potential victims on how to avoid scams as well as a place to report scammers.