Trends in Scams and Impersonation
The number of scams reported in 2020 nearly doubled in comparison to previous years. After reviewing the data for 2025, there are different types of scams that are used more than others. While scams for free vacations and winning the lottery are still present, they aren’t nearly as present as some others. One scam that is trending these days is impersonation.
Scammers will pose as government agencies and businesses to take advantage of others. As per the FTC, the top government agencies that scammers disguised themselves as in 2025 were:
- DMV/Toll imposters
- Social Security Administration
- Federal Trade Commission
- US Customs and Border Protection
- IRS
Toll imposters were the most reported government imposter in 2025 with a significant increase in comparison to previous years. However, social security scams are the leading government imposter scam that people will actually fall victim to.
While similar, business imposters differ from government imposters in which they’ll pretend to be well known businesses. Rather than government entities. Some examples of business imposters can be:
- Package delivery – will say there is a problem delivering a package you may not have ordered
- Tech support – will ask for money to fix a nonexistent problem with your computer/phone
- Jobs/fake recruiters – offer a job and ask that you reach out to them for more info. May ask that you pay for a training or certification
Scams will always be present and they can appear differently as time progresses. There will be different trends in the world like the rise of social media, for example. There can be new scams that others may begin to fall victim to that align with what’s popular in the present. Thus, those scams will be used more than others. Having an understanding that new scams can pop up as time passes, and to be cautious with them, may help keep you safe.
To report suspected scams or fraud, call the Federal Trade Commission at
(877)-382-4357, from 9 AM-5 PM ET. Or visit reportfraud.ftc.gov
If you are interested in learning more about protecting yourself against scams, speak with a Community Resource Specialist: (408)-350-3200, option 1.