TL;DR: Scammers target people in stressful life moments: new parents, single parents, divorce, disasters and pet adoption. Slow down, verify who is asking for money, and never pay to receive help.
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New Parents
New parents buy heavily online and share milestones, revealing personal details.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake baby-product giveaways that harvest personal data, counterfeit product listings for cribs and car seats, and phony charity drives collecting for 'families in need' are common tactics.
- How to Protect Against It: Buy baby gear from established retailers, be skeptical of giveaways that ask for excessive personal information, and verify any charity before donating.
Single Parents
Single parents manage a household's finances alone with little time to vet offers.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake childcare subsidy or benefits programs request personal information upfront, and online sellers of children's items take payment for products that never arrive.
- How to Protect Against It: Apply for childcare or family benefits only through official government portals, and buy children's items from established retailers or in person when possible.
Foster and Adoptive Parents
Foster and adoptive parents face an emotional, paperwork-heavy process with strangers.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake adoption 'facilitators' request large upfront fees with no real match, and phishing emails impersonate agencies requesting sensitive documents during an active case.
- How to Protect Against It: Work only with licensed, accredited adoption agencies, and verify any document request directly with your caseworker through a known contact.
People Going Through Divorce
Divorce means dividing shared finances during an emotionally difficult time.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake 'divorce financial specialists' charge for unnecessary services, and a soon-to-be-ex-spouse or their contact may attempt to move or hide shared funds through fraudulent transfers.
- How to Protect Against It: Monitor joint accounts closely and consider separating them early in the process, and verify the credentials of any financial or legal specialist independently.
People Recovering From a Disaster
Disaster recovery means juggling insurance and repairs with little time to vet contractors.
- Common Tactics Used: Unlicensed contractors demand large upfront payments and disappear, and fake charity or disaster-relief collectors solicit donations claiming to help victims directly.
- How to Protect Against It: Verify a contractor's license and insurance before paying anything upfront, and donate to relief only through established, verifiable charities.
Pet Owners
Pet owners act quickly and emotionally when a pet's safety is at stake.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake online pet sellers demand payment for a pet that doesn't exist, and 'finders' of a lost pet demand a reward or shipping fee before returning an animal they never had.
- How to Protect Against It: Meet pets and sellers in person before paying, use reputable and reviewed breeders or shelters, and never send money to a stranger claiming to have found your pet.
What the FTC says
- After a disaster: the FTC lists these warning signs: claiming they do not need to be licensed, insisting you pay by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash, and claiming they can help you qualify for FEMA relief for a fee. Report suspected scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (source).
- Pet scams: the FTC says scammers use a cute puppy picture and insist you pay up front, and that only scammers say you must pay with gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer service. Report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (source).
What family and friends can do
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals, or a new online relationship that stays undisclosed are all worth a calm, judgment-free conversation. The earlier a scam is caught, the more can usually be recovered.
More guides on this topic
Also see scams targeting communities and scams targeting seniors.
Scammers often start from leaked contact details. A free digital footprint check shows whether your email or number appears in exposed data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these groups targeted?
Scammers look for people under pressure or unfamiliar with a process, because they act quickly. Each section above describes the specific reason for that group.
What tactics do scammers use?
They rely on urgency, impersonation and requests for payment or personal details. The tactics for each group are listed in its section.
How can I protect myself or a relative?
Slow the decision down, verify the person or offer through a channel you already trust, and never pay to receive a job, prize, refund or benefit.
What should family or friends watch for?
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals or wire transfers, and reluctance to discuss a new opportunity or contact are worth a gentle, non-judgmental conversation.
What should I do if I think this has already happened?
Stop all contact and payments immediately, report it to the appropriate authority, and contact the bank or payment provider involved to see what can be recovered.
Sources
- FTC – Report Fraud
- FTC – How to avoid scams after weather emergencies and natural disasters
- FTC – Getting a pet? Avoid scams