Scammers Know When You’re Vulnerable – And They’re Getting Smarter

You hear your phone ding, and without thinking, you check it—big mistake. According to the FTC’s latest report on text scams, people lost a staggering $470 million¹ to text scams in 2024 – that’s more than five times the amount lost in 2020. And this number is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Most scams go unreported, meaning the true damage is even worse.

Scammers are playing the long game, and they’ve figured out when to strike. It turns out they know your weakest points. The new tricks are slicker than ever – urgency, fake job offers, and threats that don’t sound so far-fetched. Whether it’s a package delivery scam or a fake fraud alert from your bank, these cons are designed to trigger your panic button and scramble your decision-making.

The red flags? Urgency and pressure. They want you to act fast, skipping your usual checks and making snap decisions – exactly when your brain is foggiest. So, how can you stay ahead?

Think. Don’t React.

Scammers aim to disrupt your OODA loop – observe, orient, decide, act – and get you to act before you’ve had time to think. But here’s the thing: you’re smarter than they are. If a text demands a rushed response, slow down. Read it again. Ask yourself:

Is this too urgent?

Does it sound like something a real company would send?

Is this a conversation I should be having?

Don’t trust that “urgent” text from your bank? Call the number you know is real. Not the one they sent you.

Many victims already know such scams are way beyond annoying – they’re very costly. And with scams like fake job offers, fraud alerts, and even “wrong number” friendships tricking thousands, you have to protect yourself with more than just a second guess.

If you receive a suspicious message, don’t reply—report it. The best defence is being just a little bit suspicious every time.

¹ https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2025/04/top-text-scams-2024.

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This guest editorial was written by Jurgita Lapienytė, Editor-in-Chief of Cybernews.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Jurgita has reported on major global events, including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2015 Paris terror attacks, and has driven transparency through investigative journalism.

Jurgita is a passionate advocate for cybersecurity awareness and women in tech. She has been recognised as the Cybersecurity Journalist of the Year and made the Top Cyber News Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for Cybersecurity. During her career, she has interviewed numerous leading figures and continues to amplify the many underrepresented voices in the industry.