Despite a common assumption that younger, tech-savvy generations would be immune to digital cons, a recent investigation reveals a surprising trend: millennials and Gen Z are increasingly falling prey to job scams propagated through text messages. This phenomenon underscores how evolving scam tactics, coupled with economic pressures and a lack of professional experience, create a fertile ground for fraud. The financial implications are substantial, with millions of dollars being lost annually to these deceptive schemes, prompting strong warnings from consumer protection agencies.
The study, conducted by Resume.org, brought to light that individuals from Generation Z and millennials are significantly more likely to be ensnared by fraudulent job offers sent via text messages. Specifically, 16% of millennials and 20% of Gen Z members reported falling victim, contrasting sharply with just 10% of Generation X and a mere 4% of baby boomers. This vulnerability is even more pronounced among young men, with 24% of Gen Z males and 31% of millennial males admitting to having been defrauded. Kara Dennison, Resume.org's head of career advising, points to several contributing factors, including early career stages where individuals have not yet honed their ability to detect warning signs, and intense financial pressures that make the allure of quick, remote income particularly strong, especially when dealing with student debt and rising living expenses.
The consequences of engaging with these deceptive messages are severe. Nearly half of the respondents who interacted with a scam text divulged personal information, while a alarming 30% reported unauthorized withdrawals from their credit cards or bank accounts. Furthermore, 22% directly transferred money to the scammers. These statistics are corroborated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has repeatedly cautioned the public about job offers that appear too good to be true. The FTC has observed a dramatic escalation in reported employment scams, with instances tripling between 2020 and 2024, and total financial losses skyrocketing from $90 million to an astounding $501 million within the same period. Major job platforms, such as Indeed, frequently impersonated in these scams, have also issued their own guidelines to help users distinguish authentic communications from fraudulent ones.
The pervasive nature of these text-based job scams has instilled a widespread sense of skepticism among Americans. Approximately 40% of individuals reported receiving at least one such scam text in 2025, with over 70% choosing to either ignore or block the numbers. While a segment of the population, roughly 14%, still falls victim despite seeking advice or conducting online research, the reasons for engagement vary. A quarter of those who engaged cited the offer's apparent attractiveness, another quarter believed the texts seemed professional and legitimate, and 21% simply didn't recognize the offer as fraudulent. Desperation for money and urgent job needs also played significant roles, influencing 15% and 12% of victims, respectively. The overarching concern among many is that the prevalence of these scams is making them hesitant to respond to genuine recruitment efforts, leading to increased caution, more extensive research into potential employers, and delayed responses—all measures aligned with the FTC's recommendations for safeguarding against job fraud.
The proliferation of job scams delivered via text messages has escalated dramatically, leading to significant financial losses for many Americans. Younger demographics, especially young men, are particularly vulnerable to these schemes. The FTC advises extreme caution, recommending that individuals ignore or block suspicious job offers received via text message and always verify job opportunities through official channels.