October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual reminder to check the locks on our digital lives. This year, it’s important to remember that anyone can become the target of a scam when emotions take over and good judgment is rushed.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025, a number that has climbed nearly 430% since 2020. That increase isn’t a sign that people are becoming careless, it’s a sign that scammers have become increasingly skilled at manipulating human emotions such as fear, urgency and trust.During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take time to understand the tactics behind today’s most common scams. Recognizing these strategies is the first step in avoiding a scam.

Here is how many of today’s scams actually work and how to shut them down.

They create urgency so you can’t think.

Almost every scam depends on getting you to act before you slow down. A text about an unpaid toll threatens to suspend your registration. A caller claims your bank account has been drained. The goal is to keep you reacting emotionally instead of thinking clearly. According to the FTC, government imposter scams jumped 40% in 2025, fueled largely by fake toll messages. When a message demands that you act immediately, treat the urgency itself as the warning sign.

They borrow trust they didn’t earn.

Imposter scams have been the most reported type of fraud for nine years in a row, with more than 1 million reports and $3.5 billion in losses in 2025. Scammers pose as your bank, the IRS or a company you recognize because people naturally trust familiar names and organizations. They may copy a real phone number or mention a recent purchase to seem legitimate. When something feels off, hang up and call back using a phone number you look up yourself.

They build relationships before asking for money.

Some of the costliest scams begin with a low-pressure greeting. According to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, “pig butchering” is an investment scam in which fraudsters gain a victim’s trust over time, often through a fake friendship or romance, then convince them to invest in phony cryptocurrency or other fraudulent schemes. It often starts with a text that looks meant for someone else, followed by weeks of friendly conversation before the subject turns to a can’t-miss investment. These schemes now drive the largest losses tracked by the FBI, with $7.2 billion in cryptocurrency investment fraud reported in 2025. If someone you met online eventually steers the conversation toward investing or moving money, that’s your cue to walk away.

They meet you where you’re already scrolling

Fraud increasingly starts on the platforms people use every day. According to the FTC, in 2025, consumers reported losing more to scams on social media than through text or email, with shopping scams leading the reports. More than 40% of people who lost money to a social media scam had ordered something they saw in an ad. Before buying from an unfamiliar page, search the company’s name along with the word “scam,” look for independent reviews, and verify there’s a legitimate website and contact information.

The One Habit Worth Building

While today’s scams often rely on psychology, strong cybersecurity habits still matter. Using unique passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, keeping your devices updated and regularly monitoring your financial accounts can make it much harder for criminals to access your information if they target you.

Iowa State Bank is here to help you protect your money and your peace of mind. If you ever receive a message that doesn’t feel right, contact your personal banker at your local office using a trusted phone number before you act.

This information is provided for informational purposes only by the Iowa Bankers Association and Iowa State Bank.