Experts say scammers exploit Gen Z’s online activity, making them more likely to fall for scams

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Experts say young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are the new top targets for scammers.

A recent study done by financial auditor Deloitte found Generation Z is three times more likely to fall for an online scam compared to Baby Boomers. 

Experts say it’s because of their online habits and scammers know where to find them. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, in the first two quarters of 2025 Tennessee Gen Zers have already lost over a million dollars.

When a 21-year-old University of Tennessee student couldn’t access her money on the digital payment app, Zelle, she did what many people do and looked up the customer service number online. 

“This man answered it and proceeded to tell me that, ‘Well, we see that you have $150 but we need to make sure that you pay off this money that you already owe us,'” Kylia Berry said. “I never questioned it.”

Berry was told she owed $1,600 and he guided her through her phone settings to “prove it.” He convinced her to scroll through her bank accounts and download an app that he said would fix the issue. 

“I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s figure this out,'” Berry said. “I really want this $150.”

But it wasn’t real. It turned out to be spyware, giving the scammer complete access to her phone. 

“I had to erase everything…all my pictures, all my contacts, I had to also change my phone number,” she explained. “I lost voicemails of my Mamaw that passed away, like it was really bad.”

Tony Binkley said it’s a common scheme and young people, even the most tech savvy, are the prime targets. Some of the top schemes are employment and online purchase scams. 

“These scammers are so good at what they do, they’re trained to make you believe that what they’re telling you is real,” Binkley said.

Berry said she learned that lesson the hard way. 

“I think just my age, specifically Gen Z, we are very, very comfortable with just phone and technology and just understanding and being comfortable with the other person on the other side,” she said. 

Berry has ditched cash apps altogether and thinks twice before giving out her information. 

“It made me live my life in a new perspective, not trusting everyone and making sure that if I’m going to call someone, I need to ask those certain questions,” she said. 

Berry’s not the only one. Madison Stroud, just 23, remembers getting a call from an 865 number. As a busy real estate agent, she answered right away — no reason to suspect anything unusual.

“Sounded very professional, like a Southern man,” Stroud said.

The caller claimed to be from the Knoxville Police Department and told Stroud she missed federal jury duty. He knew where she worked and insisted she signed a document agreeing to appear. 

“I was out of town on a mission trip,” she said. “So I was like, ‘Oh, no, someone’s forging my signature.'”

The caller said she owed a $2,000 fine and if she didn’t pay she would be arrested. Stroud spent the next six hours on the phone trying to figure out how to get the money.

“I was like, ‘Okay, well, I don’t have this money, so I’m going to have to borrow it from someone, and I need to tell them what’s going on,’ and he was like, ‘No, you’re under gag order. This case is still active.'”

Stroud was scared and eventually called her sister and asked for cash while the scammer stayed on the line. 

“I met her at the bank, and then he had me go to two different Krogers to buy the money pack cards,” she explained. “Then after that, he had me go to the post office to mail them to a federal address in Washington, D.C.”

By the time she reached the police department, where the man promised to meet her, she realized she’d been scammed. 

KPD Property Crimes Detective Michael Harper calls it the modern day “con game.” HE said young adults are becoming the most common targets. They’re often targeted through social media or even email. 

“Once you buy something like this and give someone this information, that money’s just gone,” Harper said. 

Stroud wants other people to know it can happen to them too. 

“I’ve had training on scams and I fell victim to it,” she said.

She is $2,000 in debt and still trying to make up what she lost. 

“My generation is going so fast in their day-to-day life and I think we also aren’t educated enough on knowing what to look for, especially now that they’re getting more creative,” she said.

Police said if you ever get a call like the one Stroud took, hang up, call the agency directly and never send money or gift cards to anyone claiming to be law enforcement. 

Remember that scammers use threatening and high-pressure language to create a sense of urgency. Law enforcement will never take any kind of payment 

If you think you’ve been scammed, you can report it to the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker.