It is not just the elderly who fall victim to scams, as data shows that in 2024, the largest demographic of scam victims will be aged 18 to 29, accounting for over 45,000 individuals. This is largely due to the overwhelming nature of online information and the ever-evolving scams that young people struggle to detect.

Recently, a young woman named Jun-hee shared her story of losing 2 million in just one week through a fraudulent investment scheme. Initially joining a LINE group for ‘investing in Hong Kong stocks,’ she gained trust after making profits a few times, only to later find herself cheated. The investor vanished with her money after promising to cover losses. Lawyers highlight that because the scammer left no information, and all procedures appeared legitimate, these cases are challenging to trace.

Reportedly, the methods of online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with a survey indicating that 43.5% of office workers have experienced scams, with average financial losses of over 217,000. Moreover, those aged 36 to 40 are the most likely to be victims, with women slightly more affected than men.

Experts point out that young people are often drawn to jobs with high pay and low barriers to entry, which increases the number of job-related scams. It’s vital to be cautious of individuals requesting to communicate privately via LINE or asking for personal details to avoid becoming targets of these scams.