AARP Hearing Center
Most Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults are familiar with the concept of fraud, know it’s a crime, and believe it can happen to anyone, a new AARP survey reveals. However, the findings also indicate a need for sustained educational efforts in fraud prevention, as more than half of AAPI adults (54%, 8.4 million) report limited knowledge of scam tactics and 3 in 5 (64%, 9.6 million) are not confident in their ability to recognize a fraudulent pitch or offer.
Fears and vulnerabilities
AAPI adults feel vulnerable to scams, with two-thirds saying they are at least somewhat likely to experience fraud. A quarter are specifically worried about the rise in fraud involving artificial intelligence (AI).
The concern is warranted. A quarter (27%, 4.1 million) have fallen victim to a scam, with an average of $5,800 being stolen. An estimated 7.8 million, or 2 in 5 (49%), AAPI adults have encountered at least one fraud attempt. Many AAPI adults, both younger and older, believe their age makes them a target for scammers.
Online fraud prevention
With online shopping increasing, the study reveals a need to improve online safety practices to minimize fraud vulnerabilities. While many in the AAPI community are taking some steps to protect themselves — for instance, through password usage and updating their electronic devices — significant room for improvement remains. A quarter of survey respondents report using the same password for two or more online accounts, and two in three (67%) use public Wi-Fi without the added protection of a VPN.
Online safety practices — such as using unique passwords, enabling VPNs, and not using social media accounts to log into other accounts — are key areas identified in the report for educational efforts. Culturally relevant workshops, combined with practical guidance for safer online behavior, could ensure that more people within the community adopt habits to better protect themselves from fraud.
Seeking support in reporting fraud
Despite knowing fraud is a crime, only a third (32%) of those who were fraud victims reported it to law enforcement. Warning family and friends was significantly more common, with half (50%) taking that action. Although many reported feeling angry about their fraud experience, a significant number also expressed embarrassment, likely contributing to the low rate of reporting the crime.
Findings indicate that the AAPI community seeks greater support in addressing scams and fraud. Specifically, most want easier ways to report scams (65%), more assistance from law enforcement (58%), greater access to legal help (57%), and greater collaboration among businesses, government, and banks (56%).
Methodology
The study explored AAPI adults' awareness and experiences with scams and fraud using a 15-minute survey administered in English online and by telephone to a sample of 2,050 AAPI adults (age 18-plus) between July 3 and 23, 2025. The data are weighted to the latest American Community Survey (ACS) benchmarks developed by the U.S. Census Bureau and are balanced by age, gender, region, education, U.S. born and Asian origin.
For more information, please contact Alicia Williams, Ph.D. at arwilliams@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.
MORE FROM AARP
