It’s no secret that online scams have been on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission reported that Washingtonians lost nearly $250 million to fraud in 2023. And the startling fact is their data shows that no group – young, old, computer-savvy – is showing immunity to the rise in scams.
According to a Lightcurve survey of 600 Washington State residents, 95% are concerned about being scammed or conned when it comes to online transactions and communications. At Lightcurve, we’ve seen firsthand from our internet customers how sophisticated and rampant these scams are, and how they are affecting you, our Washington community.
More than 53,000 fraud reports were filed by Washington residents with the FTC. But most scams appear to go unreported, as according to Lightcurve’s survey half of all Washingtonians (51%) have been the victim of an online scam. Of those:
- 18% reported losing money to a scam
- 14% shared personal information
- 14% said it caused them emotional distress
In the past online scams were often associated with being elderly, tech-illiterate or gullible. But the face of scam victims is changing. You’ve probably noticed that today’s internet scams are intricate and advanced, with 92% of Washington residents agreeing that scammers are becoming more sophisticated.
As a result younger generations are increasingly the victims of scams. Over the last few years, Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers were 86% more likely to report losing money to online shopping scams than older adults, according to the FTC.
The frequency of online scams also makes them impossible to avoid. They’ve become a fact of day-to-day life. The vast majority (93%) of Washingtonians said they have encountered an email, text or online interaction that they thought was a scam in the past 3 months.
According to respondents the top places they feel most likely to encounter scams are:
- Online marketplaces
- SMS Text Messages
- Dating apps and websites
In addition to the economic impact of scams, the need for constant vigilance takes a toll. More than half of respondents said they have felt drained, anxious or overwhelmed due to the need to be on guard against online scams.
Scams seem to be lurking everywhere. With the rise of spoofing, deepfakes, and generative AI, scams are even harder to detect.
- 66% of those surveyed agree that AI has gotten to the point where they have a hard time distinguishing between what’s real and what’s AI-generated.
- Thirty percent of Washingtonians say they find it hard to trust anything online, while 60% say they are cautious but still regularly engage in online interactions.
- Notably, only 20% are very confident in their ability to recognize a scam.
So, what should you do to protect yourself from fraud?
According to Amanda Singleton, Lightcurve’s consumer advocacy expert, scammers count on urgency and people reacting without thinking.
“The best way to protect yourself from scams is to slow down and ask questions. If something sounds too good to be true, turn on your skepticism and start asking questions. If someone is pressuring you to act quickly, pause and get curious about their motives.”
Amanda advises consumers to remember that, “Smart people fall for scams because scams aren’t about logic. They are about emotion. Scammers know that playing on emotions will make their victims less vigilant and more susceptible to acting without thinking critically.”
Once you pause and start thinking, she recommends you ask yourself these questions:
- Does this offer sound too good to be true?
- Is this request out of the ordinary?
- Was I expecting this request or offer?
- Did I do something that would make this company or agency reach out to me?
- How can I verify this request or offer?
At Lightcurve, we’ve got Washington’s back. When it comes to scams, we’re here to make sure our neighbors stay informed, protected, and confident online — because a connected community is a safer community.
Methodology: A Lightcurve survey of 600 Washington State residents conducted in July 2025 via Pollfish.
