Watch out for these cunning scams

November 14, 2025

By Kim Komando

I don’t want you to be a statistic. 

Google put out a quiet but urgent warning: Online scams are on the rise, and they’re getting harder to spot. Even savvy folks are getting blindsided. 

According to FTC data cited in Google’s November 2025 advisory, 57% of adults were targeted by a scam in the past year, and 23% had their money stolen. 

Let those numbers sink in for a bit. I’ll wait.

🥷🏼 Scammers go pro

These scams don’t come from a sketchy email with misspelled words and cartoonish logos anymore. They’re polished. Professional. Powered by AI. 

A fake job offer that looks like it’s from a company you trust. A holiday travel deal that matches exactly what you searched for. A banking app that appears like your real one, down to the logo and interface. A phone call with a caller ID saying it’s your financial manager.

And scammers know the season. Around the holidays, we’re all clicking more links, scanning more emails, tracking more packages. The bad guys are counting on it.

✋ If it feels off, pause

Scammers aren’t simply phishing anymore. They’re spearphishing. That means they’re using personal info they buy from data brokers, including your name, job title, hometown and more to tailor scams to you.

A few quick tips that make a big difference:

• Double-check URLs. Scammers use ones that look almost identical to the real deal but with one letter off or a different domain.
• Don’t pay to apply for a job. If a listing wants money up front, it’s a red flag.
• Use two-factor authentication on every account you can, especially your email and bank. Better yet, use an authenticator app from Google (Android, iOS) or Authy (Android, iOS).
• Be cautious with unfamiliar apps, even on official stores. Look at the reviews, publisher and number of downloads.

If a deal, job offer or message feels too good (or too urgent) to be true? It probably is.

😶‍🌫️ Scams thrive in silence. Use the share icons below to send this to a friend, your group chat or that one relative who clicks on sketchy links. A single click could save someone a serious headache or a whole lot of money.