Pew Research Center recently released results of a study on online scams and attacks. It seems timely for folks in St Paul. It’s not meant to be a downer or even a warning but a reminder to be cautious and smart. If it seems too good to be true or something doesn’t sound right, look closer…

Online scams and other internet crimes are skyrocketing, with a record $16.6 billion in losses reported to the FBI in 2024. The federal government, banks and companies are all sounding alarms. And the public is also wary, with many having firsthand experience:

• Nearly all Americans view online scams and attacks as a national problem. More than nine-in-ten say online scams and attacks are a problem in the country, including 79% who describe them as a major problem.

• Most U.S. adults have been a victim of an online scam or attack. We find that 73% of U.S. adults have ever experienced things like credit card fraud, ransomware or online shopping scams.

Helpful to know how for are getting scammed…

Online scams target Americans in variety of ways, including phone calls, texts and emails. According to our survey, a majority of U.S. adults report getting scam phone calls (68%), emails (63%) or text messages (61%) at least weekly that attempt to get their personal information. One-third get these messages on social media at the same frequency.