The year 2026 is almost here, and with the new year comes a new wave of scams that could potentially drain your bank account. From Amazon texts to QR codes, these scams are something experts all over the country are worried about, but thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself. To learn more about what scams are expected to skyrocket in 2026 and how to stay safe, keep scrolling!
The top scams experts predict for 2026
As you head into 2026, here are the top scams seniors need to be aware of.
AI-generated products
According to Rick Van Luvender, senior vice president of information security at Fiserv, a global financial technology and payments company, “AI-generated deepfakes [images, videos and audio] are now the most common threat observed by banks, with deepfakes targeting customers and employees increasing by 243 percent over the past year. While new digital tools like mobile banking and AI-powered chatbots make life easier, they also create fertile ground for cyberattacks.”
Falling for those scams can result in identity fraud, loss of money and more.
To avoid them, Van Luvender recommends verifying where you are getting your information from. They also recommend not clicking on any links that look like they could potentially be created by AI.
“Countering these evolving cyber threats requires a flexible, intelligence-driven defense built on three pillars: proactive threat intelligence, active third-party vendor management and a delicate balance between robust security and protecting the customer experience,” Van Luvender says.
Gift card scams
Another common scam that experts are warning about that will continue into the new year is gift card scams. According to Shelley Hunter, a consumer gift card expert at eGifter, these happen after a scammer contacts you pretending to be someone close to you. They will claim you need to go get those gift cards as soon as possible, which can result in you losing lots of money.
“If a scammer found you through a nanny or other caregiving site, you’ll likely get a message about a family in crisis. If they found you on a dating platform, your new love interest will soon have an emergency and need your help. From LinkedIn, you’ll get a message from the boss who needs help immediately,” says Hunter. “No legitimate business or government agency will ask for gift cards as a form of payment. It’s a scam—hang up.”
“If you’re not sure. Call your people directly using the phone number in your phone or the one you find on the company’s website. Don’t call a number given to you in the message,” she continued. “Gift cards are for gifting. That’s it. If someone demands payment with gift cards, it’s a scam.”
Pig butchering crypto scams
Another online scam seniors are facing is pig butchering crypto scams, which Jeffrey Nadrich, managing attorney at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, says is when “scammers build fake relationships with women online and slowly convince them to invest money into fraudulent crypto investments. Oftentimes, these scams are highly organized and can lead to the loss of life-changing amounts of money.”
To protect yourself, he says, “Women need to be wary of investment opportunities that are initiated via social media or other messaging apps. In general, it’s a bad idea to direct money toward people you’ve only met online.”
QR code phishing
QR codes are everywhere now, but according to Alex Listopad at the online safety company ClearNym, some of the ones you might see are scams.
“The QR code will take you to a fake payment/login page that looks genuine, so you just key in your card details or password,” he said. “Therefore, avoid scanning any public QR codes. If you do scan them, make sure you check the URL first before keying in any details.”
Toll-payment text scams
One of the rising scams seniors are facing is a toll-payment text scam.
Michael Scheumack, chief innovation officer at IdentityIQ, an identity theft protection service, says, “Throughout the past year, victims across the U.S. were hit with highly realistic toll-payment text scams claiming they owed money for unpaid tolls and needed to ‘settle immediately.’”
“Scammers are now using AI to comb through public social media accounts, tracking where people post vacation photos, location tags, and travel updates. Armed with that data, fraudsters send toll text messages that reference real cities, highways or regions the victim recently traveled through, making the scam feel legitimate and urgent,” he continued. “We’re now seeing this same AI-driven tactic expand beyond tolls. New text scams impersonating state DMVs claim victims owe speeding tickets or traffic violations that must be paid now, using urgency and fear to push people into reaction mode before they can verify the message.”
To protect yourself from this scam, be sure to verify that you actually owe a toll payment. You can do this by calling the toll service in your area.
Amazon text scams
Along with toll scams, Scheumack is also urging seniors to stay alert for Amazon-related scams.
“Over the past few weeks, IdentityIQ has seen a 200 percent spike in customer calls reporting Amazon-related scams, more than double the usual volume,” he said. Fraudsters are sending text messages to victims impersonating Amazon for returns. The link in the text message is malicious and is designed to steal personal and financial information.”
To stay safe, Scheumack says “to stay alert: never click links in unsolicited emails or texts, avoid sharing financial or identity information over the phone, and only manage accounts through Amazon’s official website or app.”
