Connect with us

Technologies

Scam Messages Are Everywhere. CNET Survey Finds 96% of Americans Are Targeted by Scammers Each Week

Scam emails are the most common tactic criminals use to reach out to us, followed by phone calls, texts and social media messages.

Like many of you, I check my email multiple times a day. Too often, as I’m scrolling through updates from my son’s school, checking my bills or browsing retail deals, an email subject line or sender catches my eye that I know is a scam.

I know I’m not the only one who regularly receives scam messages. A new CNET survey shows that 96% of Americans receive at least one scam message from email, phone calls or texts each week.

CNET’s Danni Santana, who regularly tracks and reports on cybersecurity issues, finds this number concerning, but not surprising. With a rise in data breaches, scammers likely know how to reach you and will try different methods to get you to fall for a scam.

«Data breaches that leak the personal information of everyday Americans, including phone numbers, happen almost every day,» said Santana. «Just about all of us have been affected by one, whether we know it or not.»

With scammers now using artificial intelligence to create more convincing scams to trick us into sharing our information through phone calls, texts and direct social media messages, spotting scam messages has become more difficult. As bad actors leverage AI to get faster and better at crafting scam messages, it’s important to stay vigilant.  

Here’s what else we learned and expert tips to help you avoid falling victim to a scam. 

Most US adults get weekly scam messages

Scammers try to reach us in almost every way we communicate. It can happen when we answer the phone (they might even be trying to get a snippet of our voice to use in another scam later), via text message or through a direct social media message that feels personal and authentic. 

So how do you protect yourself? Here’s what CNET experts recommend.

Most US adults are threatened by email scams weekly

CNET’s survey found that email scams are the most common type of scam message US adults receive on a weekly basis — 90% of Americans get at least one per week. Survey findings also show that older generations, Baby Boomers and Gen X, are the most targeted — 94% of each group receive at least one scam email a week.

Bree Fowler, CNET’s senior security reporter, says phishing emails aren’t as easy to spot anymore.

«It used to be that scammers would go with over-the-top phishing emails that wanted you to ‘Click now!’ saying that you were going to miss out on a great deal, be hit with credit card charges you didn’t make or even go to jail for back taxes,» said Fowler. But people have caught on to what scammers are up to, and now they’re trying to hide in plain sight. 

Before you open an email that could be a scam, look closely at the subject line and sender. Fowler said that scam subject lines are a lot less obnoxious than they used to be. For example, shipping notifications are a still popular scam email that can seem harmless because they impersonate companies, such as Amazon or a bank. 

If you accidentally open the email, hover over the link to see if anything looks suspicious but don’t click it. Fowler also recommends looking for good antivirus software and other security measures such as two-factor authentication and a solid password. 

Phone call scams aren’t slowing down 

I’m all too familiar with getting phone calls from a random phone number in the middle of the day. Scammers are even leaving voicemails now. 

Second to emails, phone scams are the next most common with 83% of US adults saying they receive at least one spam phone call a week. Even worse, 23% say they experience 10 or more scam calls per week. By generation, Boomers receive the most spam calls — 89% receive at least one scam phone call a week.

Nowadays, most phone carriers have features to spot scam calls. My carrier marks these calls as «Spam Risk» to flag suspicious calls to help me better identify them. 

If you answer and suspect it’s a scammer, hang up right away. You can always call the company the caller claimed to work for, like your bank or utility, to check whether the phone call was legitimate.

There’s another risk to talking to scammers on the phone. Some are using artificial intelligence to clone your voice. The scammers then use the recording to make their calls seem more trustworthy to scam others, potentially including your family and friends. The longer a scammer can capture your voice, the more accurate their future calls become. 

Read more: Protect Yourself from Anonymous Calls: Unknown Caller vs. No Caller ID

Text message scams can be sneaky

CNET found that 82% of US adults receive text scams weekly. Thirty-four percent reported receiving one to two text scams per week, while 13% said they get 10 or more per week. 

Scam texts, also known as «smishing,» can add up if you fall for them. US adults lost a whopping $470 million in text scams last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. However, there are ways to catch text scams and keep phishers from stealing your money or identity this way. It starts with being on the lookout for any common scams that are making news headlines. 

Santana said that the fact that we continue to see phishing scams is proof that they’re working. How often you receive unsolicited texts or phone calls could be a coincidence or it could mean scammers think you’re an easy target, he added.

One text scam that’s been common this year is messages from fake agencies about unpaid tolls and threats if you don’t pay your unpaid balance right away. You may also receive fake messages from what appears to be your bank, a government agency like the IRS or Social Security Administration, or even a hopeful scam message about your student loans qualifying for debt relief. Most of these messages come with an urgent request for a response or a payment. 

Santana says it’s best to slow down before taking any action if you get a suspicious text. You don’t need to respond immediately. 

«Whenever you get a random text message claiming you must take action or else, the best thing you can do is take a breath and slow down,» said Santana. «Scammers want you to make rash decisions. But if you calm down and analyze the link or even the language used in the message, you have a good chance of identifying the scam.»

Read more: If Someone Says, ‘You Must Pay, or Else,’ It’s Likely a Scam. Ways to Protect Yourself

If you do open a scam message, avoid clicking on suspicious links and don’t respond. If you don’t recognize the number, block the sender and report it as spam. It’s also recommended to keep an eye out for updates to your phone’s software for spamware defense and security improvements.

Social media scams can look convincing

I’ve fallen for a social media scam before. I received an offer for discounted tickets to a college football game, and I sent the «seller» a few hundred dollars via Zelle before verifying that they were legitimate.

Over half of US adults (60%) receive one or more direct social media messages per week. Gen Z sees the most social media scams — 66% receiving at least one per week. So it’s important to be vigilant and ignore messages from anyone you don’t know. If you receive a suspicious direct message from someone in your contact list, reach out to them via text or the phone to confirm whether it’s legitimate. 

«The same tactics you use to avoid falling for text messages can be applied to scammers sliding into your DMs with ‘too good to be true’ deals or money-making opportunities,» said Santana. Don’t respond to anyone you don’t know, and if you believe your loved one is being impersonated, report the message and user right away. Most importantly, don’t respond. 

Read more: My Kids Were Targeted by Scams. Here’s How I Keep Them Safe

Banks are taking action to protect customers. In March, Chase announced that it would block Zelle transactions initiated on social media to protect customers from being scammed. If you’re wary of conducting a transaction online, try other trusted sites and payment methods that are verified and provide protections for both buyers and sellers, such as eBay and Mercari. 

Most importantly, pay attention to security features and reminders. For example, Venmo asks you to verify the last four digits of a Venmo user you’re unfamiliar with before sending money and to be careful when making online purchases. Most peer-to-peer payment apps don’t offer fraud protection.  

Methodology

CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,437 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken April 28-30, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults aged 18 and over. 

Related Topics:

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Sept. 19

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Sept. 19.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

I didn’t get off to a great start with today’s Mini Crossword, completely blanking on 1-Across. Thankfully, the other clues were easy, and that answer filled itself in. Need some help? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Cancel on plans at the last moment
Answer: FLAKE

6A clue: Shade of light purple
Answer: LILAC

7A clue: ___ acid (protein builder)
Answer: AMINO

8A clue: Sarcastic «Yeah, sure»
Answer: IBET

9A clue: Sardonic boss on «Parks and Recreation»
Answer: RON

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Stylish panache
Answer: FLAIR

2D clue: Party game that tests how low you can go
Answer: LIMBO

3D clue: Visitor from outer space
Answer: ALIEN

4D clue: Philosopher who posed the question «What can I know?»
Answer: KANT

5D clue: Environmentally friendly prefix
Answer: ECO

Continue Reading

Technologies

Your Old Android Isn’t Dead. These Tweaks Can Bring It Back to Life

Clear space, optimize your battery and update the basics. These quick changes can make an old Android phone feel snappier.

You don’t need the latest Android flagship to get good performance. 

Thanks to longer software support from brands like Google and Samsung, older models can still run smoothly, as long as you give them a little attention. Clearing out unused apps, updating your software and tweaking a few settings can breathe new life into a device that feels sluggish. These quick fixes can help your phone last longer and save you from spending on an early upgrade.

Before you start shopping for a replacement, try a few simple adjustments. You might be surprised by how much faster your phone feels once you free up space, optimize battery use and turn off background drains.

Whether you use a Samsung Galaxy, Motorola or OnePlus phone, chances are you can still improve battery life and overall speed without buying something new. Just remember that Android settings vary slightly from brand to brand, so the menus may look a little different depending on your phone.

Don’t miss any of CNET’s unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome.

Settings to improve your battery life

Living with a phone that has poor battery life can be infuriating, but there are some steps you can take to maximize each charge right from the very beginning:

1. Turn off auto screen brightness or adaptive brightness and set the brightness level slider to under 50%

The brighter your screen, the more battery power it uses. 

To get to the setting, pull down the shortcut menu from the top of the screen and adjust the slider, if it’s there. Some phones may have a toggle for auto brightness in the shortcut panel; otherwise, you need to open the settings app and search for «brightness» to find the setting and turn it off.

2. Use Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimization

These features focus on learning how you use your phone, including which apps you use and when, and then optimizing the apps and the amount of battery they use. 

Some Android phones have a dedicated Battery section in the Settings app, while other phones (looking at you, Samsung) bury these settings. It’s a little different for each phone. I recommend opening your settings and searching for «battery» to find the right screen. Your phone may also have an adaptive charging setting that can monitor how quickly your phone battery charges overnight to preserve its health.

Why you should use dark mode more often

Another way to improve battery life while also helping save your eyes is to use Android’s dedicated dark mode. Any Android phone running Android 10 or newer will have a dedicated dark mode option. 

According to Google, dark mode not only reduces the strain that smartphone displays cause on our eyes but also improves battery life because it takes less power to display dark backgrounds on OLED displays (used in most flagship phones) than a white background. 

Depending on which version of Android your phone is running, and what company made your phone, you may have to dig around the settings app to find a dark mode. If your phone runs Android 10 or newer, you’ll be able to turn on system-wide dark mode. If it runs Android 9, don’t despair. Plenty of apps have their own dark mode option in the settings that you can use, whether or not you have Android 10. 

To turn it on dark mode, open the Settings app and search for Dark Mode, Dark Theme or even Night Mode (as Samsung likes to call it). I suggest using dark mode all the time, but if you’re not sure, you can always set dark mode to automatically turn on based on a schedule, say from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, or allow it to automatically switch based on your location at sunset and sunrise. 

Keep your home screen free of clutter

Planning to hit up the Google Play Store for a bunch of new Android apps? Be prepared for a lot of icon clutter on your home screen, which is where shortcuts land every time you install something.

If you don’t want that, there’s a simple way out of this: Long-press on an empty area of your home screen and tap Settings. Find the option labeled something along the lines of Add icon to Home Screen or Add new apps to Home Screen and turn it off. 

Presto! No more icons on the home screen when you install new apps. You can still add shortcuts by dragging an app’s icon out of the app drawer, but they won’t appear on your home screen unless you want them to.

Read more: Best Android Phones You Can Buy in 2024

Set up Do Not Disturb so that you can better focus

If your phone routinely spends the night on your nightstand, you probably don’t want it beeping or buzzing every time there’s a call, message or Facebook alert — especially when you’re trying to sleep. Android offers a Do Not Disturb mode that will keep the phone more or less silent during designated hours. On some phones, this is referred to as the Downtime setting or even Quiet Time.

Head to Settings > Sounds (or Notifications), then look for Do Not Disturb or a similar name. If you can’t find it, search for it using the built-in search feature in your settings.

Using the feature, you can set up a range of hours when you want to turn off the digital noise. Don’t worry, any notifications you get while Do Not Disturb is turned on will still be waiting for you when you wake up. Also, you can typically make an exception that allows repeat callers and favorite contacts’ calls to go through. Turn that on. If someone is calling you in an emergency, odds are they are going to keep trying.

Always be prepared in case you lose your phone or it’s stolen

Is there anything worse than a lost or stolen phone? Only the knowledge that you could have tracked it down if you had turned on Google’s Find My Device feature.

To prepare for a successful recovery, here’s what you need to do: Open the Settings app and then search for Find My Device. It’s usually in the Security section of the Settings app.

If you have a Samsung device, you can use Samsung’s Find My Mobile service, which is found in Settings > Biometrics and security > Find My Mobile. 

Once that’s enabled, you can head to android.com/find from any PC or mobile device and sign in to your account. Samsung users can visit findmymobile.samsung.com to find a lost phone. 

If you have trouble setting any of this up, be sure to read our complete guide to finding a lost Android phone.

Assuming your phone is on and online, you should be able to see its location on a map. From there, you can make it ring, lock it, set a lock screen note to tell whoever has it how to get it back to you, or, worst-case scenario, remotely wipe the whole thing.

And always keep your phone up to date

As obvious as it may seem, a simple software update could fix bugs and other issues slowing down your Android device. 

Before you download and install the latest software update, make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi, or else this won’t work.

Now, open the Settings application and type in Update. You’ll then either see Software update or System update — choose either one. Then just download the software, wait for a few minutes and install it when it’s ready. Your Android device will reboot and install the latest software update available.

There’s a lot more to learn about a new phone. Here are the best ways to boost your cell signal, and here’s a flagship phone head-to-head comparison. Plus, check out CNET’s list of the best cases for your Samsung phone. More of an Apple fan? We have tips for boosting your iPhone’s performance, too.

Continue Reading

Technologies

Your Pixel 10 Might Have Issues With Older Wireless Chargers

You might want to try taking the case off your phone in order to successfully charge it.

When Google introduced the Pixel 10 lineup in August, it became one of the first major Android phones to receive the Qi 2 wireless charging standard, which Google calls Pixelsnap. However, users noticed issues with wireless charging on the Pixel 10  almost immediately after its release. 

Some people are having trouble charging their phone with the new Pixelsnap charger, and others are having issues with older wireless chargers, including Google’s own Pixel Stands. The bulk of the problems happen when a case is on the phone — whether it has the magnet array or not.

I own both the first and second generation Pixel Stands and both will charge my Pixel 10 Pro XL without an issue if there’s no case on it. However, when I add a case to my phone, the problems begin. 

I have three cases for my phone, the Mous Super Thin Clear Case, the Magnetic Slim Case Fit by Grecazo, and a no-name soft TPU case. If my phone has any of those cases on and I attempt to charge it while it’s vertical, it starts to charge and then stops after a second or two, and keeps doing that. 

I can fix this for the first-generation Pixel Stand by turning the phone horizontal, but it will still charge very slowly. I can’t seem to fix it at all for the Pixel Stand 2 — vertical, horizontal, it doesn’t charge. 

Not everyone has this issue

The problem doesn’t seem to be universal. CNET editor Patrick Holland said he had no issues charging the Pixel 10 Pro during his time with it. 

A Google spokesperson told me the Pixel 10 lineup is not optimized for older Qi wireless charging standards, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the phones won’t work with older wireless chargers. 

Qi 2 is backwards-compatible with older standards, but the phone’s height and charging coil placement on both the phone and the charger are still factors. If you’re having problems, you might see if removing the case helps.

The prospect of potentially needing to replace your older wireless chargers with newer ones isn’t ideal, especially if you shelled out $80 for one or both of Google’s own Pixel Stands. Still, if you want the best wireless charging speed for your brand new Pixel 10 phone, it won’t be with wireless chargers that only support older Qi standards.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © Verum World Media