How it works:

• Victims receive a text, WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media message offering easy remote work.
• They’re asked to “optimize apps,” rate products, or like videos.
• The platform shows fake earnings accumulating.
• Eventually, victims are told they must deposit their own money, often cryptocurrency, to unlock larger payouts.
• The money disappears, and the earnings were never real. The FTC reported a dramatic increase in these scams beginning in 2023-2024.

Why it impacts young adults:

• Who doesn’t want to make a lot of money without a lot of effort?
• Recruitments typically occur through social media, texts, and messaging apps commonly used by younger consumers.

2. Rental and Housing Scams: These have become a major issue for college students and young adults looking for apartments.

How it works:

• Scammers copy legitimate rental listings and repost them.
• They request deposits, application fees, or personal information before a property is viewed.
• Some even provide self-tour instructions to make the scam appear legitimate.

The FTC reported that adults ages 18-29 were three times more likely than other adults to report losing money to rental scams. Many originated from fake listings on Facebook and housing groups.

3. QR Code Scams (“Quishing“): Cute name, ugly scam. QR-code-based scams have exploded since QR codes became common for parking, events, menus, and payments.

How it works:

• Scammers place fake QR stickers over legitimate ones.
• Victims scan the code and land on a fake login or payment page.
• Personal or financial information is stolen.

The FTC and other agencies have issued repeated warnings, especially involving parking meters, package notifications, and utility payment requests.

4. Fake Package Delivery QR Code Scams: A variation of quishing that deserves its own mention.

How it works:

• Someone receives an unexpected package or package-delivery notice.
• A QR code is included to “track,” “verify,” or “register” the item.
• The code leads to a phishing site that collects login credentials or payment information.

This is especially effective because younger consumers (and us, to be honest) rely heavily on online shopping and delivery services.

5. Fake CAPTCHA Scams: A relatively new technique that many consumers have never heard of.

How it works:

• A website displays what looks like a normal “I’m not a robot” verification.
• Instead of clicking images, users are instructed to copy and paste commands into their computer.
• Those commands install malware or give criminals access to the device.

The FTC highlighted this growing tactic in 2026.

6. Social Media Marketplace and Concert Ticket Scams: While online shopping scams are not new, scammers have become much more sophisticated on social media marketplaces.

Common schemes include:

• Fake Taylor Swift, sporting event, or concert tickets
• Counterfeit electronics
• Fake apartment sublets
• Deposit-first transactions

The scammer often builds trust through a real-looking profile with years of activity before disappearing after payment.

7. Investment Group Chat Scams: These frequently begin on social media. Victims are invited into “investment groups” where dozens of fake participants boast about extraordinary profits. The social proof convinces victims to invest money or cryptocurrency into fraudulent platforms.

This tactic combines classic investment fraud with social engineering tailored to younger audiences.

8. AI-Powered Job Recruitment Scams

Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated:

• recruiter profiles
• company websites
• interview emails
• chat interactions

Red flags include:

• interviews conducted only by text
• offers received without speaking to anyone
• requests to purchase equipment with a check
• requests for banking information before onboarding

These scams are particularly effective against recent graduates looking for remote work.

Common Red Flags You Should Never Ignore