The Surprising Generations Falling for Job Offer Scam Texts

You’d assume the tech-savvy crowd, Millennials and Gen Z, are invincible when it comes to dodging scam texts. But guess what? They’re actually the most likely to fall for them. That’s right, even digital natives can be tripped up, and here's why this matters to all of us.

Who’s Falling for These Job-Offer Scams?

A recent survey by Resume.org revealed that 20% of Gen Z respondents and 16% of Millennials admitted to falling for a job-scam text promising high pay, compared to just 10% of Gen X and a mere 4% of Baby Boomers.

Digging deeper, the most vulnerable group? Young men. Some 31% of Millennial men and 24% of Gen Z men fell prey to these scams, a rate that towers above the overall averages.

Why the Younger Crowd Gets Tricked More Often

So what makes younger adults, especially young men, such easy targets?

Lack of experience: Many are early in their careers and haven’t yet developed the intuitive red-flag radar that older professionals might have.
Financial pressure: Student loans, rising living costs, and a hunger for flexible, high-paying remote gigs make too-good-to-be-true offers dangerously appealing.
Overconfidence in tech fluency: Familiarity with digital tools doesn’t equal immunity, sometimes it breeds complacency. Being tech-savvy can give a false sense of security.

Just How Damaging Are These Scams?

Falling for a scam isn’t just embarrassing, it’s costly:

Of those who engaged, 48% shared personal information, 30% had money stolen from bank or credit card accounts, and 22% ended up sending money directly to scammers Resume.orgwicpa.org.
The amounts lost vary: some under $100, others between $100–$500, but a noticeable portion lost $501–$1,000, and a few even more Resume.org.
Scammers often demanded payment for fake “equipment” or “training”, 84% of victims noted this tactic Resume.org.

If you think this happens rare, think again. In 2025, 39% of Americans reported receiving at least one fake job-offer text, nearly 4 in 10 people.

What This Means for You (and Everyone)

These scams are getting smarter and more widespread, and they prey on a range of psychological triggers, urgency, need, trust in favored platforms. That’s why anyone can fall for them, regardless of age or tech know-how.

Smart Moves to Stay Safe:

Ignore or block unsolicited job texts.
Never click on links from unknown numbers.
Always verify recruiter credentials independently, don’t rely on the text alone.
Pause before acting: ask for time to research or talk to someone you trust.
Be especially mindful of messages promising fast money or remote gigs.

As the data shows, avoiding these scams isn’t just about being digitally clever, it’s about staying grounded and suspicious when something feels too easy.