Impersonation fraud is becoming a serious problem in 2025, especially as people deal with economic stress and political uncertainty. Scammers pretend to be trusted figures like government officials, police officers, or bank workers to trick people into giving up money or personal information. These scams often come through phone calls, emails, or text messages and can seem very real. Many times, the scammers use fear—like claiming you owe money or will be arrested—to pressure victims into acting quickly. Older adults are especially targeted because they may be less aware of these tricks. The Federal Trade Commission warns that this type of fraud has grown a lot, especially in recent years, because scammers are using real events like government payments or data breaches to make their lies seem believable.

Scams are on the rise, and they’re getting harder to spot—especially for older adults. Many scammers use phone calls, emails, or text messages to trick people into sending money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other hard-to-trace methods. They may pretend to be from the government or a well-known company, using threats or offers that seem too good to be true. In just one year, over 16,700 cases of senior financial exploitation were reported in Ohio alone. With today’s uncertain economy, many people are more likely to fall for these schemes. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay alert, ask questions, and never give out personal information or money in response to unexpected messages.