Young people are the most confident they could spot a scam – despite being scammed more than any other age group, new research has found.
Adults aged 18-34 are the most likely to be fooled by online scammers, new research from Airbnb has found.
The research found that young people lose an average of £1,150 each to a variety of different scams, from credit card fraud to phishing and social media scams.
When asked which generation they thought were most likely to be scammed, young people picked Baby Boomers more than any other age category, with over a third (36 percent) of Gen Z and two in five (40 percent) Millennials opting for Baby Boomers.
However, research shows that 18-34-year-olds have been scammed more than any other age group and over a third (34 percent) wouldn’t know who to go to for help if they were scammed.
Relaxed attitudes to social media may have a part to play in young people falling victim to fraud. Nearly half (42 percent) of Gen Z would search or book a holiday via social media, compared to just under a third (29 percent) of Millennials and only 5 percent of Baby Boomers.
Meanwhile, 14 percent of 18-34-year-olds would be willing to book a holiday advertised by an influencer on social media compared to just 1 percent of those aged over 55.
Although raised in the digital era, the research also reveals that people aged 18-34 may be less vigilant online, leaving them more vulnerable to fraud.
While the majority of Baby Boomers (62 percent) and Gen X (54 percent) use a different password for each online account, this falls to less than half (49 percent) when looking at Gen Z.
As the cost of living continues to bite, a third (32 percent) of Brits are looking to make savings on holidays this year.
However, a desire for deals and riskier decision-making may be making people more susceptible to scams, with over a quarter (28 percent) of Gen Z having been targeted by a holiday or accommodation scam.
When it comes to booking, nearly one in 10 (9 percent) Brits would be willing to book a holiday with an unrecognised provider if it meant saving money, rising to 17 percent of Gen Z.
Meanwhile, more than one in 10 (13 percent) UK adults, rising to one in five (19 percent) 18-34-year-olds, would pay for a holiday via bank transfer, where their money is not protected.
Amanda Cupples, general manager for the UK and Northern Europe, Airbnb: “As people take advantage of the upcoming Bank Holidays, travellers should remain vigilant when browsing for their trips online and book directly with trusted providers.
Tony Neate, chief executive, Get Safe Online: “Many of us book our holidays online, and it is so important that we can do so safely, securely and with confidence.”
Mr Neate warned that if a “deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is”.
