Research from the Better Business Bureau suggests the millennial generation is now more likely to fall victim to a scam than Baby Boomers.
The Better Business Bureau reports that 69 percent of scam victims are under the age of 45. Young adults heading off to college are especially gullible, the group says.
“College students can be easy targets for scammers and identity thieves. They are old enough to have money, young enough to be vulnerable and are likely unsupervised as many are away from home for the first time,” writes Heather Massey of the Better Business Bureau.
Phishing scams now target cell phones as well as email and social media.
“Millennials spend a lot of time on Facebook or other social media sites, where they can target them with these messages,” said Jim Hegarty, Better Business Bureau president and CEO.
College students also use sensitive information frequently, like student IDs, Social Security numbers, and banking information.
This statistic is incredibly shocking, as many assume internet scams prey on the elderly. However, new technology and evolving scam methods put everyone at risk. BBB says that 78 percent of scam victims hold a college or graduate degree.
Alexander James is a contributor to Red Alert Politics and a freelance journalist.
