Being Online Shouldn’t Mean Being Targeted: Sophisticated Scams Are Growing

Widespread fraud worry among LGBTQ+ adults signals a call for action

New AARP research among LGBTQ+ adults 18 and older finds that concern about online scams and fraud is nearly universal, driven in part by uncertainty about where to turn for help or how to report scams and recover losses. Nearly all LGBTQ+ adults (96%) worry about the possibility of an online scam or fraud, and regarding cryptocurrency specifically, more than half (52%) say they are not confident about who to contact if they experienced such a scam. This widespread concern translates into strong support for action, with 94% of LGBTQ+ adults agreeing that lawmakers need to do more to protect consumers from fraud and scams.

Digital life creates both connection and opportunity for scammers

The findings also show that high levels of online engagement are occurring alongside increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. Like most adults, LGBTQ+ respondents are highly active on digital platforms, with 89% using text messaging and 82% using social media weekly or more often. This frequent use, particularly of social media, means LGBTQ+ adults are spending more time in online spaces where advertising fraud has become common; 29% report having personally experienced it. Compounding this risk, Meta estimates its platforms show users roughly 15 billion scam ads daily, illustrating the scale of the threat.

Romance and cryptocurrency scams impact nearly 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults

While general knowledge of fraud is common, significant gaps in understanding leave many at risk. Nearly a third of LGBTQ+ adults (28%) say they, or someone they know, have experienced a romance scam. Although 74% feel knowledgeable about the tactics used by romance scammers, experience appears to be a key factor; those who have personally experienced such a scam report higher levels of knowledge than those who have not. Furthermore, 30% of LGBTQ+ adults have encountered cryptocurrency fraud, either personally or through their social circles.

Fraud takes a financial toll on LGBTQ+ adults, with no clear path to report or recover losses

Financial consequences are common for those who experience scams, yet many incidents go unreported. Two-thirds of romance scam victims (67%) experienced a financial loss, often through sending money (79%) or engaging in fraudulent cryptocurrency investments (12%). Despite these losses, more than one-third (36%) of LGBTQ+ adults did not report the incident anywhere. For those who did act, the reporting landscape was fragmented, with victims reaching out to the police (25%), banks or credit unions (27%), or the online platform where the scam occurred (20%).

Methodology

These findings are based on an online national survey of 1,222 LGBTQ+ adults 18 and older, conducted December 3 to 11, 2025, using NORC’s AmeriSpeak® Panel and nonprobability samples from Cint and Prodege. AmeriSpeak® is a probability‑based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population and is funded and operated by NORC at the University of Chicago. Final data were weighted using NORC’s TrueNorth calibration methodology by sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, and income to benchmarks derived from the 2024 Household Pulse Survey.

For more information on fighting fraud, please see these additional resources from AARP:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/fighting-for-you/

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/where-to-report-scams/

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/

For more information on this survey, please contact Joanne Binette at jbinette@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.