Different Scams Impact Different Audiences, Which Means You Need to Prepare for All of Them

January 25, 2023

Back during the holiday season, the Federal Trade Commission shared some data that showed that members of Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z are all more likely to fall for online shopping scams than those over the age of 60…and not by a little, either. Those under that age are apparently 86 percent more likely to fall for these scams.

Let’s examine some of the findings of this report, and what they tell us about the state of cybersecurity.

Here’s the Hard Truth: Different Types of Scams are More Effective with Different Age Demographics

According to the FTC, scams are universally effective. However, one form of scam may be more effective to one generational subset, while another might impact a different one.

For instance, the FTC’s research saw that younger generations were far more prone to online shopping fraud, investment scams, and job scams. Meanwhile, older generations were more successfully targeted by tech support scams and sweepstakes scams.

It also needs to be said that different scam victims are frequently targeted using different means, as well. Younger Millennials and members of Generation Z are frequently successfully targeted by scams that begin on social media, while Generation X and Baby Boomers are frequently victimized by phone scams.

It Doesn’t Matter What Age Someone Is, They’re Just as Vulnerable to Cyberattacks and Scams

With so many scams out there, utilizing different mediums and platforms to target their intended victims, it’s important that everyone is prepared to spot potential threats and react to them appropriately…and this is all the more important in the business.

Fortunately, businesses in Northern Virginia can turn to the professionals at First Column IT for assistance in preparing their teams to deal with assorted cybersecurity threats. Give us a call at (571) 470-5594 to learn more about our cybersecurity services.

‍

From Pay-As-You-Go to Paying Too Much

When businesses first migrate to the cloud, the promise is almost always the same: limitless scalability, faster innovation, and lower upfront costs. Unfortunately, that pay-as-you-go dream can quickly turn into a pay-more-than-you-thought nightmare. Recent industry data suggests that organizations typically overspend by 25-to-35 percent on their cloud resources. Without visibility, you aren’t just paying for what you use; you’re paying for what you forgot you were using.

January 20, 2026

Don't Let AI Turn Your Company Into a Ghost Ship

Ubiquitous technology, used correctly, makes your business a powerhouse. Used poorly, it turns your company into a ghost ship, technically efficient but completely disconnected from your customers.

January 17, 2026

Beyond the Vault: The Business Case for Password Manager Integration

The password has long been the most important security tool because it is the most widely used. From a backend perspective, integrating a password manager isn't just as a digital vault, it helps build a comprehensive security framework.