In the current digital age, the use of technology continues to infiltrate most aspects of everyday life, from online shopping to dating, making people more vulnerable to internet fraud. Additionally, a large portion of the American work force has recently transitioned to working from home, further increasing the likelihood of falling victim to an internet scam. Even though senior citizens continue to be the most vulnerable group according to a 2020 FBI report, younger generations are also being impacted at higher rates than ever before. According to The Federal Trade Commission’s 2021 data, more than $5.8 billion was lost to fraud, a 70% increase compared to 2020. As technology continuously advances, online fraudsters are constantly developing new and more sophisticated cons. According to some experts, we may be on the verge of a “scampocolapyse”, as online cons are growing at an unprecedented rate. In this environment, it is imperative for internet users to be aware of the high potential of fraud and how to protect themselves against scams. The five internet scams described below have been listed as some of the common scams in 2022.

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