Popular Fraud Tactics in 2025 

Every year, scams get more sophisticated. It seems like just when people figure out how to avoid one trick, scammers come up with another. And increasingly, we’re seeing scams that are disturbingly convincing. 

Here are some of the major scams we’ve been seeing so far in 2025—and what you can do to avoid falling victim: 

AI Voice Scams 

“Voice cloning” has become much more sophisticated. Scammers can now mimic the voice of a loved one with a short clip pulled from social media or voicemail. You might get a call from someone who sounds exactly like your son or daughter claiming they’re in trouble and need money wired immediately. 

What to do: 
If something sounds off, hang up and call the person back directly using a number you know to be accurate.  

 

Text Messing Phishing  

“Smishing” (SMS phishing) is on the rise in 2025. Scammers send realistic-looking texts that appear to come from your bank, Amazon, USPS, or even the IRS. I’ve been getting a lot of texts about unpaid tolls. These often include links that lead to fake websites or ask for verification of a purchase you didn’t make. 

What to do: 
Don’t click links in unsolicited texts. Go directly to the organization’s official website or app.  

 

Medicare Equipment and Service Scams 

Scammers are posing as Medicare representatives, insurance providers, or health plan administrators, offering free genetic testing, equipment, or benefits in exchange for your Medicare number. 

What to do: 
Hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE if you receive an unsolicited call. Never give out your Medicare or insurance number to anyone you didn’t initiate contact with. 

 

“Help Desk” 

You receive a call from Apple, Microsoft, or another major tech company stating that your account has been compromised. They offer to help you secure it by taking control of your computer remotely or having you log in to a fake site. 

What to do: 

Tech companies do not call you out of the blue. Never allow remote access to your computer unless you initiated the contact and know the person you are talking to. 

 

The tactics change from year to year, but they all rely on a sense of urgency – some action that must be taken quickly. Most of these can be avoided by slowing down and thinking critically about them before responding. Call someone you trust and ask them what they think about it.  

As financial fraud tactics evolve and adapt to technological advancements, staying informed is essential. Stay cautious and informed!

Happy Planning,

Alex

This blog post is not advice. Please read disclaimers.

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