The study by Oxford Information Labs (OXIL) challenges the common belief that older people are most at risk and instead points to situational factors – such as stress, exhaustion, and financial pressure – as key vulnerabilities.
Research highlights that scammers exploit moments of disruption and distraction, rather than simply targeting specific age groups.
Carolina Caeiro, director of policy at OXIL Research, said: “The fraud conversation has been stuck on the wrong question for years.
“We keep asking who is targeted, and the answer we assume is older people on their own.
“But our research shows the real question is when.
“When someone is exhausted, financially pressured, going through a break-up or managing a dependency, their ability to pause and question what’s in front of them drops.
“That’s not a character flaw. That’s a human condition.
“And it’s exactly what modern scams are built to exploit.”
The findings reveal that 26 per cent of self-identified impulsive individuals reported scam attempts, along with 23 per cent of people experiencing major life changes such as divorce or moving home.
Those with gambling problems were also more likely to be targeted, with 29 per cent reporting scam encounters.
Tiredness was the most commonly cited factor affecting scam awareness, mentioned by 29 per cent of respondents, followed by financial worries at 22 per cent and a hectic work-life balance at 21 per cent.
A striking 81 per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds said situational factors had influenced their vulnerability to scams, compared to a national average of 62 per cent.
The research also identified links between specific life situations and scam types.
People moving house were often targeted with urgency-based scams involving fake deadlines or fines, while those with gambling issues were more than twice as likely to fall victim to romance scams.
Individuals in financial difficulty were more frequently drawn to get-rich-quick schemes and cash prize fraud.
Alice Taylor, senior scam and fraud researcher at OXIL Research, said: “This research matters for how fraud intelligence is built and applied.
“Tackling scammers is not about telling victims what they could have done differently, how they could have educated themselves, or leaving them to blame themselves.
“Instead, we need organisations across sectors to do more to safeguard people.”
OXIL is developing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training on safeguarding adults against scams and fraud, aimed at equipping professionals in law enforcement, healthcare, and social services to integrate scam awareness into existing safeguarding frameworks.
Click Here For The Original Source.
