Scammers are some of the most vile evil creatures. They will take advantage of anyone they can to steal as much as they can without guilt or remorse. There are specific types they love to target and three general personalities they love most. These are the top 10 specific types they target:
1. Elderly Individuals – May be less familiar with modern technology and often have financial savings.
2. People with Cognitive or Developmental Disabilities – May have difficulty recognizing manipulation or deception.
3. Individuals Experiencing Loneliness or Isolation – More likely to trust strangers offering companionship.
4. People in Financial Hardship – May fall for scams promising quick money, debt relief, or job opportunities.
5. Young Adults and Teens – Less life experience and frequent online activity make them susceptible to online scams.
6. Individuals with Limited Digital Literacy – May have trouble identifying phishing emails or fake websites.
7. Caregivers and Healthcare Workers – Compassionate nature can be exploited by scammers posing as people in need.
8. Immigrants and Non-Native Speakers – Language barriers and unfamiliarity with local laws make them easier targets.
9. Individuals Facing Emotional Distress or Grief – Lowered defenses can lead to emotional and financial manipulation.
10. Online Daters and Those Seeking Relationships – Romance scams often exploit emotional vulnerability.
But the three golden eggs they look for are:
- Greedy People
- Desperate People
- Criminals
Scammers know people in these three situations will either bend or ignore their morals, or have no morals. When I was in the military, we actually had classes in counter-espionage where they told us enemy spies also look for those in crippling debt, addicted to drugs or sex, and those engaging in crimes. These people are easier to manipulate and co-opt.
Some resources we have prepared about scams:
Common Scams
Scams Targeting the Elderly
Scams targeting Bitcoin and Crypto investors