Technology has built a world of convenience and opportunity, enabling us to work, shop, learn, and connect with loved ones online. As our reliance on technology grows, so do the risks. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, leveraging powerful new tools to create deceptive and damaging schemes.

With the sheer volume of threats, you may wonder how you can truly keep your personal information and hard-earned money safe. Being informed and prepared for the latest online scam examples is the first and most powerful step you can take to protect yourself and your family.

McAfee is committed to helping you navigate the digital world with confidence. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the latest and most dangerous internet scams predicted for 2025, and provide clear explanations, real-world scenarios, and simple, actionable steps you can take to stay safe. We believe that by working together and sharing knowledge, we can make the digital world a safer place for everyone.

The alarming reality: Key statistics of online scams

An online scam is any fraudulent scheme that uses internet services or software to deceive you into giving away money or sensitive personal information. These scams often hide behind the logos of trusted brands, mimic communications from your friends or family, or prey on your emotions—like fear, excitement, or a sense of urgency.

→ Dig Deeper: How to Recognize an Online Scammer

To give you a glimpse of the magnitude of the problem and reinforce the need for vigilance, it is good to be aware of key online scam statistics. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a massive criminal industry. While specific data for 2025 are not yet available, recent numbers paint a clear picture of the rising threat.

  • Explosive financial losses: The FTC reports that reported losses to online scams exceeded $12.5 billion in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023. Investment scams were the most common category.
  • Texting is the new frontier: Cybersecurity research from 2024 shows that smishing has overtaken email as the number one delivery method for malicious links, as people tend to trust text messages more implicitly.
  • All ages are a target: While older adults often lose more money per incident, recent reports show that young adults aged 18-29 are falling for scams more frequently, especially on social media and payment apps.
  • The problem is underreported: Victims of online scams don’t ever report the crime to law enforcement due to embarrassment or a feeling that it won’t make a difference. This means the true scale of the problem is much larger than official numbers suggest.

Forces driving the evolution of internet scams

The scams of today are far more advanced than the poorly worded emails of a decade ago. Cybercriminals are constantly innovating, driven by these key factors:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI as the single biggest game-changer in modern cybercrime. Scammers are now able to write perfectly convincing phishing emails, create hyper-realistic deepfake videos, and even clone voices from short audio samples found online. This technology makes it incredibly difficult to distinguish between a sophisticated fake and something genuine.
  • New platforms: As we spend more time in new digital spaces like virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), and the broader metaverse, scammers are creating new schemes tailored to these environments such as fraudulent virtual real estate deals or theft of digital assets.
  • Breached data: Massive data breaches are flooding the dark web with billions of personal records. Scammers purchase this data to create highly personalized and believable attacks known as spear phishing.
  • Digital transactions: The increasing use of cryptocurrency and instant payment apps is giving scammers a fast, often anonymous, and irreversible way to receive money.

Common tactics used by online scammers

While scam methods evolve, the core tactics scammers use to manipulate victims remain surprisingly consistent—exploiting human emotions and decision-making shortcuts. Knowing these psychological tricks will help you spot a scam before it strikes. The more familiar you are with these red flags, the better equipped you’ll be to shut them down before they do any harm.

  • Creating urgency: Scammers manufacture a crisis or a limited-time offer to make you act quickly without thinking. Phrases like “act now” or “your account will be suspended” are designed to trigger panic and bypass your natural caution.
  • Preying on emotion: They exploit powerful feelings like fear, excitement, or compassion. A message might threaten you with legal action or promise a huge prize to cloud your judgment.
  • Impersonating authority: By using the names and logos of well-known organizations such as banks, online retailers, or government agencies, scammers borrow trustworthiness. You’re more likely to comply with a request if you believe it’s from a legitimate source.
  • Offering the unbelievable: Deals that are too good to be true are a classic lure. Whether it’s a luxury item at a 90% discount or a guaranteed lottery win, these offers appeal to our desire for a great deal, hoping we’ll ignore the warning signs.
  • Requesting unusual payment methods: Scammers often demand payment through untraceable or irreversible methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate businesses will not ask for payment this way.
  • Sloppy grammar and spelling. Official communications from banks, government agencies, and reputable companies are always professionally proofread. While AI is making this less common, many scams still contain obvious errors that are a clear giveaway.

Common channels scammers use to target you

Scammers reach out through the platforms you use every day. Understanding where these threats are most likely to appear helps you stay alert and avoid falling into their traps, no matter how convincing the message may seem.

  • Emails: Phishing is the classic approach where scammers send emails pretending to be from a company you trust. For example, you get an email from “Netflix” with the subject line “Action Required: Your Account is On Hold.” It urges you to click a link to update your payment details, but actually leads to a fake website designed to steal your credentials and credit card number.
  • Text messages: Phishing via SMS text message, or smishing, is where scammers send messages with urgent alerts or tempting offers to get you to click a malicious link. For instance, a message from “USPS” says your package has a delivery issue. Please visit [malicious link] to update your shipping address.”
  • Voice calls: In vishing—phishing over a voice call—criminals will call you pretending to be from a government agency like the IRS or a company like Amazon. They could also clone your family member’s voice using AI, to say they’ve been arrested and need you to wire money for bail immediately.
  • Social media: Scammers use social media platforms to send malicious direct messages, post fake ads, or even hijack your account. Example: You see a sponsored ad on Instagram for a flash sale on a popular brand of shoes, offering a 75% discount. The ad links to a fake shopping site that steals your payment information.

Types of online scams to watch for in 2025

While the number of online threats can seem overwhelming, it’s empowering to know that most of these schemes fall into a few predictable categories. Think of these as the main plays in a scammer’s playbook. Recognizing which category a suspicious message falls into can help you quickly identify the tactic and protect yourself.

Impersonation

In this scam, a criminal pretends to be someone you know and trust. They might use the logo of your bank in a phishing email or call you claiming to be from a government agency. The goal is to borrow credibility from a trusted name to trick you into giving away information or money. Here are some examples:

AI voice cloning and deepfake videos

In this evolution of the classic “grandparent scam,” the scammer uses a small audio clip of your loved one—perhaps from a social media video or a voicemail—and uses AI to clone their voice. They pretend to be a family member in distress, either in an accident or in prison, and are desperately asking you to immediately send $2,000 via a payment app to cover bail or hospitalization fees. The urgency and familiar voice makes you panic and act before you think.

Government and business imposter scams

The scammer impersonates a government official or company representative, claiming you owe money, your account is compromised, or your device is infected. They often demand immediate payment via untraceable methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. A sample message from a robocall could say: “This is the IRS. You owe back taxes. Pay $900 now via Apple gift cards or face arrest.” These messages or calls aim to make you panic and act before thinking critically, only to learn the IRS never contacts citizens this way.

AI-crafted phishing and smishing attacks

Scammers use AI-driven large language models to craft convincing, personalized messages that look like they’re from trusted sources, making them especially difficult to detect. These messages may include your name, recent purchases, or social media posts. For example, “Hi [your name]. Your recent post about Tokyo was inspiring! As a thank you, enjoy a free Starbucks voucher: [malicious link].” Clicking the link installs spyware or leads to a fake login page.

Fake online shopping websites

These scams use sleek website designs and massive discounts to trick you into thinking you’re shopping on a legitimate e-commerce site. The site may feature fake reviews and branding, and stolen product images of, for example “designer” handbags, to boost credibility. You buy that bag for 80% off. Weeks go by without delivery or you receive a cheap knockoff. Because you used your credit card to make the purchase, you start to see strange charges or your payment information was sold on the dark web.

→ Dig Deeper: 8 Ways to Know If Online Stores Are Safe and Legit

Debt collection scams

Fraudsters pose as debt collectors, calling or emailing you to demand payment for a debt you either don’t really owe or they cannot validate. You’re told you owe $1,200 in unpaid credit card debt, and could face jail time unless you pay today through untraceable methods like gift cards or irreversible wire transfers. If you ask for written proof, they’ll either evade the request or send fake paperwork.

Account takeover and impersonation scams

Scammers hack or phish credentials to gain control of your email, messaging, or social media accounts. Once inside, they impersonate you and contact your family and friends to request money, writing “I need help right now. Please send $200!” They send it, only to find out your account was hacked. In other cases, scammers send malicious links, turning your own relationships into attack vectors.

Travel Scams

Scammers set up fake booking websites or social media profiles offering deep discounts on flights, hotels, or packages. You book a “beachfront villa in Phuket” via a travel deal you saw on Instagram, pay in advance, and receive “confirmations.” When they arrive, there’s no booking, or the service never existed, and no refund in sight. These scams peak during vacation season when people are most vulnerable to good deals.

→ Dig Deeper: Stay Vigilant Against Travel Scams and Enjoy Your Trip

Charity fraud scams

Following disasters or publicized crises like a major earthquake, scammers create fake charities or impersonate real ones to steal donations. They may use lookalike websites or call with emotional pleas from the “Rescue Relief Foundation.” You donate $100 via a wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards. They rely on urgency and emotion to bypass your skepticism.

Financial

These scams directly target your wallet with false promises. A classic example is an advance-fee scam in which you’re told you’ve won a lottery but must first pay a small “processing fee” to claim your prize. Another example is a fake investment opportunity that promises guaranteed, high returns on your money. Common financial scams include:

Advanced fee fraud via crypto

You receive a direct message on a social media platform from someone claiming to be an “early crypto investor” running a giveaway. They say you’ve won 5 Ethereum, but to receive it, you must first send 0.05 Ethereum to their wallet to cover the network transfer fee, taxes, or legal costs. Once you pay the fee, they disappear.

Lottery and sweepstakes scams

These scams notify you via email, text, or social media that you’ve won $50,000 in the “MegaWin Inc.” lottery or sweepstakes. But before claiming your winnings, you must pay a $200 fee for taxes, insurance, or processing. No legitimate contest operates this way; real winnings are never conditional on upfront payments.

Cryptocurrency and NFT investment scams

These schemes often begin with flashy ads, fake testimonials, or influencer endorsements promising enormous returns on crypto or non-fungible token (NFT) investments. Scammers lure you into depositing money or crypto into a platform that looks legitimate. They might even show you dashboards with fabricated growth charts to keep you investing more, offering 10x returns in 2 weeks. You invest $500 and see your “balance” skyrocket. Once you try to withdraw funds, you’re either blocked or told to pay additional “fees”—then the website disappears.

→ Dig Deeper: 7 Tips to Stay Safe from Bitcoin and Crypto Scams

Cryptocurrency recovery scams

If you’ve fallen victim to a crypto scam, recovery scammers may take advantage of your desperation, posing as blockchain experts or investigators who can recover your funds, only to rob you again. They usually find you via forums or social media where you’ve posted about losing $3,000 in Bitcoin. They’ll offer to help you recover your losses and ask for a $300 upfront “recovery fee,” claiming they can obtain remote access to your digital wallet.

Payment app and money transfer scams

Scammers exploit instant-pay apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App to receive untraceable funds. They may pose as a seller, perhaps offering used products like a camera, on social media, and insist on payment via Venmo. You pay, and they disappear. Because many of these platforms lack refund capabilities, the funds are nearly impossible to recover once sent.

→ Dig Deeper: Types of Venmo Scams and How to Avoid Them

Timeshare scams

Fraudsters lure victims into timeshare deals with promises of luxurious vacations and flexible usage plans. You attend a free travel seminar and are met with high-pressure sales tactics to rush you into signing up for a “vacation club” without full transparency. You end up locked into contracts with rising maintenance fees and no easy exit. Some scams also involve “resale services” that charge upfront to sell your timeshare, but never do. A year later, you’ve paid over $2,000 in fees but can’t book a single trip.

Multi-level marketing scams

Multi-level marketing scams promise financial freedom by selling products and recruiting new members. In reality, income depends more on recruiting than selling. Most participants spend more on inventory, training, and recruitment events than they earn, paying up to $300 to join a wellness product company and, even after months of effort, earning only $20—but are told they just “need to recruit more people.”

Technical

Some of the most dangerous online scams don’t rely on tricks alone—they exploit technology such as malicious software, fake security alerts, or device vulnerabilities to gain access to your data or control of your systems, then scare you into paying for useless services. Among the technical scams are:

Smart device & IoT hijacking scams

If not properly secured, your smart home devices such as security cameras, baby monitors, smart TVs, or even thermostats—could be entry points for hackers, either to spy on you or to lock you out and demand a ransom. A message may appear on your smart TV reading, “Your home network has been compromised. Pay 0.1 Bitcoin to this address to regain control of your devices.” The hacker may also use your smart speaker to verbally threaten you or demonstrate their control by flickering lights.

→ Dig Deeper: Make Your Smart Home a Secure Home Too: Securing Your IoT Smart Home Devices

VR/AR and metaverse scams

Virtual scams range from selling fake virtual land or assets such as digital art or NFTs, to creating fake virtual storefronts of real brands to steal credit card information. They may also impersonate other users’ avatars to gain trust and steal account credentials. You could come across an avatar selling branded sneakers at a deep discount. You make the purchase with your linked crypto wallet, but the sneakers never arrive and the seller’s avatar disappears.

QR code phishing (quishing)

Scammers are posting malicious QR code stickers over legitimate ones in public places such as restaurants, parking lots, or event venues. When you scan the code with your phone, it directs you to a phishing website or triggers a malware download. Imagine you’re at a coffee shop and scan a QR code on the table to join their rewards program. It takes you to a professional-looking site that asks for your name, email, and credit card number. You’ve just handed your data to a scammer.

→ Dig Deeper: How to Protect Yourself from QR Code Scams

“Zero-click” malware attacks

In this insidious attack, a scammer exploits a vulnerability in an app on your phone even without any action from you. They send you a specially crafted file, like an image or GIF, and as soon as your phone receives and processes it—even if you don’t open it—the malware is installed. It can silently steal your data or spy on you.

Subscription and “dark pattern” traps

Scammers design websites and apps with confusing interfaces called “dark patterns,” making it easy to sign up for a service or a “free trial” but impossible to cancel. After the trial, you notice a $29.99 monthly charge on your credit card. When you try to cancel, the “cancel subscription” button is inactive, leads you into an endless loop of confirmation pages, or requires you to call a number where no one answers.

Fake tech support and repair scams

Pop-ups or unsolicited calls claim “McAfee Alert! Your PC is infected.” and urge you to “Call now!” for immediate tech support. The person on the other end will walk you through granting remote access to your computer, fake a diagnosis, then charge you hundreds of dollars for bogus repairs. In reality, they may also install spyware or steal your personal information. You end up paying $300 to remove imaginary malware and get your bank accounts wiped out.

Emotional

Preying on your feelings, these cruel scams involve a criminal creating a fake online profile to build a relationship over time or impersonating a loved one in a fake crisis that requires your financial help. You then send the money to find out later that you were deceived. These are some examples of emotional scams:

Online dating and romance scams

Using stolen photos to build fake profiles on dating apps or social platforms, scammers spend weeks or months developing a romantic connection, gaining your trust and emotional investment. Once a strong bond is established, they create medical, travel, or family crises, and ask you to send perhaps $500 in assistance. You send it, and never hear from them again.

Hyper-personalized phishing (Spear phishing 2.0)

Using data from recent breaches, scammers craft messages with startlingly accurate personal details about your employer, a recent online purchase, or a doctor’s appointment, making the email seem legitimate. They may reference the exact amount of your recent bank transfer, saying there’s a problem with the transaction. To resolve the “issue,” you must click a link to verify your identity, but are led to a fake banking site designed to steal your login credentials.

Job offer scams

With the rise of remote work, scammers post fake job listings on legitimate career websites. They exploit the desperation of job seekers, conducting phony interviews via video call before “hiring” you. Then, they use the onboarding process to steal your sensitive information, like your Social Security number and bank account details for a “direct deposit setup.” Sometimes, they request upfront payments for the purchase of fake equipment or training materials.

Fake ad scams

This involves posting fake ads for products or nonexistent giveaways, linked to fraudulent payment portals. Because these messages and ads promise a huge discount, exclusive product, or limited-time giveaway that seem like an unbeatable deal, you’re more likely to click. Worse, you “Share the ad with others to ‘unlock’ the offer” and help the criminal spread the scam.

Grandparent scams

Scammers target the elderly by pretending to be a grandchild in a crisis, often using real names found through social media. They call, email, or text urgently, claiming they need money for bail, hospital bills, or travel emergencies, saying “Grandpa, I’m in jail! I need $900 to post bail—please don’t tell mom!” This emotional manipulation leads grandparents to wire the money immediately without verifying the situation. In reality, their grandchild is fine.

→ Dig Deeper: How to Spot, and Prevent, the Tax Scams That Target Elders

Financial help

These emotional cons occur outside romance, too, often under the guise of new friendships or online acquaintances. The scammer spends time establishing trust, sharing stories, life events, or bonding over hobbies. Eventually, a crisis emerges and they ask for financial support, exploiting your goodwill. “My dog needs surgery, but I’m short $250. Could you help me out?” You wire the money, then they ghost you.

Seasonal and event-based shopping scams

Scammers know people are less cautious when shopping under time pressure. During holidays or major events, scammers create fantastic fake ads, promotions, flash sales, or travel deals to push you into impulse purchases with countdown timers or phrases like “limited stock.” On Cyber Monday, you might end up buying $20 AirPods that are never shipped, and your credit card is still charged or compromised.

Sextortion scams targeting children and teens

In this vile scam, predators pose as teens online and build rapport through chat apps or gaming platforms. They convince victims to share explicit images, then threaten to distribute them unless money or more content is sent. These attacks often escalate rapidly and leave the victim feeling helpless and ashamed. Awareness and education are key defenses. Related: Sextortion – What Every Parent Needs To Know

Your proactive defense against online scams

Knowledge is your shield, and proactive habits are your armor. You don’t need to be a security expert to be secure. By integrating a few simple, powerful habits into your digital life, you can dramatically reduce your risk of falling for even the most common online scams.

Adopt a “zero trust” mindset

The single most effective strategy is to shift your default mindset from trusting to verifying, adapting a zero-trust mindset. Don’t automatically trust any incoming communication, no matter how legitimate it seems. This means treating every unexpected email, text, or call as potentially suspicious until you can prove otherwise through an independent channel.

Verify before you act

Before you ever click, reply, or act, take a moment to verify the request.

  • For phone calls: If you get a suspicious call, even from a number you recognize (as numbers can be spoofed), hang up. Call the person or organization back using an official phone number from their website or your own contact list.
  • For emails: Hover your mouse cursor over any links to see the actual destination URL before clicking. Examine the sender’s email address closely for any subtle misspellings. Never use the contact information provided in a suspicious email to verify it.
  • For text messages: Treat links in text messages with extreme caution. If a company texts you, go to their official app or website directly instead of using the link provided.

The power of the pause

One common internet scam tactic is manufacturing a sense of urgency and other emotional triggers to make you panic or rush, and bypass your logical thinking. Your single most powerful defense against this is incredibly simple: just pause.

Take a breath, close the app, and walk away for a minute. No legitimate crisis or real offer will disappear in five minutes. This small act of pausing puts you back in control and gives you the space to see the scam for what it is.

Secure your digital accounts

Your online accounts are gateways to your personal life. Secure them like you would your home with these steps:

  • Two- or multi-factor authentication (2FA or MFA): Enable 2FA or MFA on every account that offers it, especially for email, banking, and social media. It means that even if a scammer steals your password, they can’t get in without your phone.
  • Strong, unique passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. A password manager is an excellent tool to create and store complex passwords for you, so you only have to remember one master password.
  • Limit what you share: Be mindful of how much personal information you post on social media. Details like your pet’s name, your birthday, or your mother’s maiden name are often used as answers to security questions.
  • Partner with an expert: You don’t have to monitor every threat alone. Security software providers like McAfee serve as your dedicated partner to monitor the dark web for your personal information 24/7. If your data is found, we alert you and provide full-service restoration support, saving you time and stress.

Keep your technology updated

Those annoying software update notifications are your friends. They contain critical security patches that fix the vulnerabilities that scammers, especially those using “zero-click” attacks, are trying to exploit. Keep your computer, smartphone, and apps set to update automatically.

Talk with your loved ones

Security is a team sport and sharing your knowledge is a powerful way to keep your loved ones safe. Talk with your family, especially less tech-savvy children and older parents, and agree on simple, effective strategies together.

For example, establish a family “safe word” for any urgent text or call asking for money or agree to always verify any financial request with a call to a known number. By opening this dialogue, you build a circle of collective defense.

What to do if you are victimized in an online scam

If the worst happens, remember that you are not alone, and it is not your fault. The most important thing is to act quickly to limit the damage and without shame. Do not wait or hope the problem will go away on its own. Here is a step-by-step plan:

  1. Secure your accounts: Immediately change the passwords of any compromised accounts, as it’s often the key to all your other accounts. If you use that password elsewhere, change it on those sites too.
  2. Contact your financial institutions: Call your bank and credit card companies using the number on the back of your card. Report the fraud. They can freeze your accounts, block fraudulent charges, and issue you new cards.
  3. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: Alerting and requesting a credit freeze from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion make it harder for a scammer to open a new account in your name, and even blocks new credit inquiries altogether. You only need to contact one bureau; they are required to inform the other two.
  4. Report the scam: Reporting helps law enforcement track down criminals and helps protect others from becoming victims.

FAQs about online scams

The world of online scams is always changing, and it can feel like a lot to keep up with. These are the most common questions we hear, with simple, direct answers.

What is the most common type of online scam?

The most common type of online scam is imposter scams. This is a broad category that includes any scam where a criminal pretends to be someone you trust, such as a government agent, a well-known business, a technical support representative, or even a family member. Closely related and equally prevalent are phishing scams, which are the primary method used to carry out imposter scams by luring you to fake websites to steal your information.

How can McAfee help protect me from online scams?

McAfee provides a multi-layered defense to help you stay safe from the many types of online scams. Our approach is to protect you at every step. Our award-winning antivirus, for one, works to detect and stop any malware, like spyware or ransomware, before it can install on your device.

Finally, our comprehensive Identity Theft Protection services monitor the dark web for your personal information and alert you if your data is found in a breach. This power is amplified because together, we are stronger. With insights from over 350 million users worldwide, we can identify and neutralize new threats with incredible speed, protecting you and the entire McAfee community.

What can reporting scams do?

Reporting a scam can feel like a burden after a stressful experience, but think of it as joining a neighborhood watch for the digital world. The critical intelligence you provide helps both McAfee and law enforcement identify the latest scam tactics and new threat patterns, data which helps protect your friends, family, and the global community from becoming the next victim. This simple, empowering act of collaboration proves that when we work together, we are all stronger and safer.

Final thoughts: Staying ahead in the digital age

The digital world will continue to evolve, and so will the tactics of those who seek to exploit it. Cybercriminals will always find new ways to use technology like AI, but that doesn’t mean we have to live in fear. Your greatest assets are awareness and a proactive spirit. Now that you know the latest and most common online scams, you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

McAfee is your partner, dedicated to providing you with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to stay one step ahead of cyber criminals, and live confidently in a digital world.

Make a commitment today to share this information with your family and friends, review your security settings, and embrace the simple habit of verification. Your digital well-being is one of your most valuable assets—protect it with passion.