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For years, the narrative surrounding financial fraud has often centered on older adults as the primary targets. However, recent data paints a different picture, as younger adults have become an outsized proportion of those affected. This is driven, in part, by the online habits of younger generations, where their familiarity with digital platforms makes them better targets of scams.

“Younger adults often believe tech savviness equals scam immunity,” Adewale Adeife, a senior cybersecurity consultant at EY, told Investopedia. “That overconfidence lowers their guard and makes them ideal targets for fast-money schemes,”

In this article, we highlight the types of scams that target different age groups and the psychological factors that make younger adults particularly susceptible.

Age-Based Vulnerabilities: Myth vs. Data

For years, conventional wisdom suggested older adults were the primary victims of financial fraud. However, recent research emphasizes a recurring finding in recent years: younger adults are losing money to fraud at rates that outpace those who are older, even as the “success” rate for scam artists (those where money is gained) is rising for all age groups.

Still, scammers are working to take advantage of online habits, social behaviors, finances, and psychology, all of which are affected by age. FTC data shows that in 2024, 44% of people ages 20 to 29 who reported fraud had financial losses, compared with 24% among those aged 70 to 79. Similarly, a 2024 PYMTS Intelligence and Featurespace study found that 83% of young adults were deceived at least once by a suspicious link in a message, with 39% of millennials and 36% of Gen Z reporting household losses to scams compared with only 19% of Baby Boomers and older adults.

Digital Natives, Digital Prey

While young people are often called “digital natives,” this familiarity with technology doesn’t translate to some sort of scam immunity. A March 2025 study looking at Instagram users between 16 and 29 found that frequent social media use often leads to “quick, instinctive decisions instead of systematically evaluating risks,” Jennifer Klütsch, one of its authors, told the Wall Street Journal.

The study also found that younger people are both more likely to trust a sender they recognize without scrutinizing suspicious links and to make impulsive decisions driven by fear of missing out on social experiences. This vulnerability aligns all too well with scammers’ tactics. Klütsch and her colleagues’ work, building on previous research, found that messages from followers (versus non-followers) and messages offering social opportunities (compared with faux job or relationship prospects) substantially increased young people’s susceptibility to phishing, where scammers impersonate legitimate senders in emails and texts.

“Social media is valued as a trusted and habitually-used environment, [and] its design makes it also inherently conducive to the effectiveness of [social engineering] attacks,” Klütsch and her colleagues concluded.

Types of Scams Targeting the Young

Young adults face particular scams tailored to their digital habits and life stage:

• Employment scams: “We’re seeing a rise in job offer scams, where fake recruiters ask for training fees,” Adeife said. Other common tactics include fake check schemes where victims deposit fraudulent checks and transfer money for “training” or “equipment.”
• Online purchase scams: Young bank customers are more than twice as likely to use credit cards to pay scammers as those over 40. The top products used include event tickets, salon services, jewelry, clothing, and eyewear.
• Cryptocurrency scams: Cryptocurrency fraud is among the most remunerative for scam artists, with a “success” rate of 60% when targeting the young.
• Social media scams: Social media platforms have become primary arenas for fraud targeting younger adults. “[Scammers] pose as influencers or friends, adding urgency with fake threats like ‘Your account will be closed,’” Adeife said. Since 69% of Gen Z claim to be “always connected” to the internet (compared with 32% of Baby Boomers), scammers have far more access to them than with other generations. In addition, on platforms like Instagram, messages from supposed followers can exploit users’ trust in the platform itself.

The Bottom Line

“Young adults are a susceptible user group, prone to be targeted by phishers who exploit their needs and expectations,” Klütsch and her colleagues wrote in the March 2025 study. This accessibility for scamsters operating worldwide means that younger adults are being defrauded at rates far higher than other generations. “Many people think scams mostly affect older adults,” the FTC has noted. “But reports to the FTC…tell a different story: anyone can be scammed.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 500 points, or 1.3%, near midday Thursday and there was one stock that bore most of the blame: UnitedHealth Group (UNH). 

Shares of UnitedHealth plummeted more than 20% after the health insurer cut its full-year earnings forecast, citing higher-than-expected costs. Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of the 30 stocks in the blue-chip Dow, one of the most commonly cited measures of U.S. stock market performance, were trading higher. The S&P 500 was up 0.3% at the same time and the Nasdaq Composite—usually much more volatile than the Dow due to its preponderance of growth stocks—was marginally lower after yesterday’s sell-off. 

The Dow’s dramatic underperformance on Thursday was a clear reflection of the index’s unique methodology. The Dow is price-weighted, meaning the stocks with the highest share prices have the most influence on the index’s performance. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, on the other hand, are capitalization-weighted indexes that are more influenced by the companies with the highest market values, not the highest share prices. 

UnitedHealth Group, with a closing price of $585.04 yesterday, was the highest-priced stock in the Dow and thus its most influential component. Goldman Sachs (GS), which closed at $499.05 yesterday, is the only Dow stock with a share price within $100 of UnitedHealth’s. (With UnitedHealth’s losses on Thursday, Goldman could finish the week as the Dow’s heftiest stock.) 

Apple (AAPL), with a closing price of $194.27 yesterday, has a fraction of UnitedHealth’s influence within the Dow. But the iPhone maker has 15 billion shares, and thus a market capitalization of nearly $3 trillion. UnitedHealth’s approximately 900 million shares put its market cap at Wednesday’s close at $535 billion, meaning Apple stock has more than 5 times the weight in the S&P 500.

To be sure, UnitedHealth, the S&P 500’s 14th-largest company heading into Thursday—still has a massive amount of influence within the S&P 500.

The selection committee that picks stocks for the Dow is cognizant of its peculiarities. Its price-weighted methodology, according to S&P Global, “has meant, over the years, that extremely high-priced stocks have not been included in The Dow.” Investors often speculate that companies with high share prices split their stock in part to increase their chances of joining the Dow. In recent years, Amazon (AMZN) and Nvidia (NVDA) have both been added to the Dow in relatively short order after splitting their stocks, which had been trading at more than $1,000 per share.

The Dow isn’t the only index susceptible to hazardous imbalance. Earlier this year, the Magnificent Seven—Apple, Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet (GOOG), Meta (META), and Tesla (TSLA)—accounted for about one-third of the S&P 500, an extreme level of concentration that set off some investors’ alarm bells. 

D.R. Horton (DHI) on Thursday announced fiscal second-quarter results with fewer ordered and closed homes than expected, as revenue and profit also fell short of analysts’ estimates.

The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.58 on revenue of $7.73 billion, both below consensus forecasts of analysts compiled by Visible Alpha.

D.R. Horton had 22,437 net sales orders in the quarter and closed on 19,276 homes, both down 15% year-over-year. Analysts had expected 26,384 net orders and 20,205 closings.

“The 2025 spring selling season started slower than expected as potential homebuyers have been more cautious due to continued affordability constraints and declining consumer confidence,” executive chairman David Auld said.

DR Horton Cuts Revenue, Homes Closed Forecasts

The homebuilder cut its fiscal 2025 guidance for revenue and homes closed based on results for first two quarters and “current market conditions.” It now expects revenue of $33.3 billion to $34.8 billion, down from $36.0 billion to $37.5 billion, and closings of 85,000 homes to 87,000 homes, reduced from 90,000 to 92,000.

D.R. Horton also lifted its projected stock buybacks for the fiscal year to $4 billion, up from $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion previously, as the company’s board approved a new $5 billion repurchase plan.

Shares of D.R. Horton were up more than 2% less than an hour after markets opened Thursday. They entered the day down 16% so far this year as homebuilder stocks have fallen on concerns that tariffs would raise costs.

If you don’t pay the property taxes that you owe on your home, you could lose it.

When property taxes go unpaid, the amount you owe becomes a lien on your house. If you don’t pay off the amount you owe, the house could be sold in a tax sale. In other instances, the house may be put in foreclosure before being sold.

How Soon You’ll Lose Your House

How quickly can a home with unpaid property taxes be sold? It typically takes one to three years.

“Paying property taxes on time is critical since not paying for as little as one year in some municipalities allows that municipality to place your property on the upcoming property auction list,” says Kassi Fetters, owner of Artica Financial Services.

Fetters went on to point out that once your property is auctioned off, that municipality will pay off your property tax debt, late fees, and auction fees for you. Then you get what’s left. “I’ve seen this happen for nonpayment of property taxes after only two years,” said Fetters.

Redeeming a House

If you have enough money, you may be able to get your house back. It is possible for a homeowner to redeem the property after a tax sale by paying the sale amount or back taxes owed plus interest. How long you have to redeem a property varies from state to state.

How to Avoid Being Late on Property Taxes

Using escrow is one way to make sure you have enough money to pay your property tax bill.

“This means that your property taxes are added to your mortgage payment, so it’s done automatically,” says Noah Damsky, a Principal at Marina Wealth Advisors. “This is the most convenient method because it’s built into your regular budget and doesn’t require you to make multiple one-off property tax payments each year.”

You can also make direct payments to your local tax collector. Start saving early in the year to have enough for your property tax payments.

“You can make one-off payments each year to your county property assessor online, so it’s convenient; you just have to make sure you make the deadlines. There are often soft deadlines that can be missed without penalty and firm deadlines weeks later that carry stiff late penalties,” Damsky says.

Make a plan for paying your property taxes. Put aside a little each month so you’ll have the full amount saved by the time your property taxes are due.

The Bottom Line

Falling behind on your property tax payments could cause you to lose your home. This could happen in a year to three years, so you could go from being a homeowner to living without a house in a short period of time.

If you still want to keep your home and you have saved enough money, you can redeem it after a tax sale by paying the sale amount of the house or taxes that are owed plus interest. To avoid falling behind on your property taxes, put aside some money each month so you’ll have enough to cover your property taxes when they come due.

Shares of Eli Lilly (LLY) jumped 12% in premarket trading Thursday after the pharmaceutical company released late-stage clinical trial results for its oral weight-loss drug that “demonstrated statistically significant efficacy results and a safety profile consistent with injectable GLP-1 medicines.”

The first of seven Phase 3 trials for orforglipron showed it was more effective than a placebo at causing weight loss and a reduction in A1C, a long-term blood sugar metric used in evaluating diabetes treatments, Lilly said. The reductions in weight and A1C increased for patients taking higher doses of the drug.

The drug had similar gastrointestinal side effects to Eli Lilly’s injectible weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, including nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea. The rate of patients reporting the side effects also varied among different doses, impacting 10% to 26% of patients.

Eli Lilly said it plans to present the data at a conference and in a peer-reviewed journal. Results from other trials for orforglipron will be released later this year, and the company expects to file for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a type 2 diabetes treatment in 2026.

Lilly, rival Novo Nordisk (NVO), and others are in development of new weight-loss treatments that can be taken orally rather than injected. Pfizer (PFE) halted an oral drug trial earlier this week after a patient reported a liver injury.

While Eli Lilly shares soared on the news, those of Novo Nordisk—the maker of blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy—sank 6% about 30 minutes before the opening bell.

U.S. stock futures are mixed following Wednesday’s market sell-off; Nvidia (NVDA) stock is in focus after sinking yesterday, with CEO Jensen Huang reportedly visiting China for talks; Netflix (NFLX) is set to report quarterly results after the bell; UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares plummet after the health insurance provider cuts its profit forecast; and U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) rise after the chipmaker posts strong results and maintains its revenue outlook. Here’s what investors need to know today.

1. US Stock Futures Mixed After Indexes Drop Wednesday

U.S. stock futures are mixed after indexes tumbled in the prior session on trade war jitters and comments by Fed Chief Jerome Powell. Nasdaq futures are up about 0.7% after the tech-heavy index fell 3.1% Wednesday, while S&P 500 futures also are pointing higher. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are 1.5% lower, pulled lower by plunging UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is moving higher to trade at around $84,700. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note are rising to above 4.3%. Oil futures are more than 1% higher. Gold futures are ticking lower. Stock and bond markets will closed for Good Friday tomorrow, with bond markets closing today at 2 p.m. ET.

2. Nvidia Stock in Focus After Sinking Yesterday

Nvidia (NVDA) stock is recovering slightly in premarket trading after sinking nearly 7% yesterday as the firm said it’s set to take a $5.5 billion charge as a result of U.S. restrictions on AI chip exports to China. Morgan Stanley analysts said they now expect an 8% to 9% hit to Nvidia’s data center revenue over the next couple quarters after the U.S. government told the chipmaker it would require a federal export license in order to sell its H20 chips to China. According to the Financial Times, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited China Thursday to meet with tech leaders and government officials, with state broadcaster CCTV quoting him as saying the country “was a very important market for Nvidia.”

3. Netflix Set to Report Q1 Results After the Bell

Netflix (NFLX) shares are up roughly 1.5% in premarket trading ahead of its anticipated first-quarter earnings report after the closing bell. Analysts expect the company to post a 12% year-over-year revenue increase. Netflix’s report comes as analysts at Oppenheimer and Bank of America maintained their bullish ratings on the streaming giant, arguing it was well positioned to navigate any potential economic uncertainty. According to The Wall Street Journal, company executives laid out ambitious targets at a business review meeting last month, including plans to double revenue by 2030.

4. UnitedHealth Stock Plummets on Cuts to Full-Year Profit Outlook

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock is plummeting 20% in premarket trading, bringing down Dow futures, after the insurance provider reported disappointing results and cut its 2025 profit forecasts. UnitedHealth reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.20 on revenue that rose 10% year-over-year to $109.58 billion, both shy of Visible Alpha estimates. The company also lowered its full-year EPS and adjusted EPS outlooks. UnitedHealth shares entered the day up about 16% since the start of the year.

5. TSMC Stock Rises on Strong Earnings, Unchanged Outlook

U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) are rising more than 3% in premarket trading after the world’s largest contract chipmaker reported strong first-quarter results and maintained its 2025 revenue outlook despite growing trade disputes. The firm reported EPS of 13.94 New Taiwan dollars ($0.43) on revenue that rose 42% year-over-year to NT$839.25 billion ($25.85 billion), topping estimates. CEO C.C. Wei said on the earnings call that the company continues “to expect our full-year 2025 revenue to increase by close to mid-20s percent in U.S. dollar terms.”

American Express (AXP) on Thursday reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on solid consumer spending.

The credit card giant reported first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $3.64 on revenue that rose 7% year-over-year to $16.97 billion. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected $3.47 and $16.94 billion, respectively. Net interest income was $4.17 billion, just above the $4.10 billion consensus.

American Express CEO Stephen Squeri said the firm saw first-quarter consumer spending “consistent with and in many cases better than what we saw in 2024.” The company affirmed its full-year outlook of 8% to 10% revenue growth and EPS of $15.00 to $15.50 “subject to the macroeconomic environment.”

American Express shares were up less than 1% immediately after the report. They entered the day down about 15% so far this year.

Last week, Bank of America analysts upgraded the stock’s rating to “buy,” saying the firm’s “high-quality customer base” would help it be more resilient in an economic turndown or recession.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) tumbled 20% in premarket trading Thursday after the healthcare giant’s first-quarter results fell short of analysts’ estimates and it cut its profit forecasts for 2025.

UnitedHealth reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.20 on revenue that rose 10% year-over-year to $109.58 billion. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha had expected $7.25 and $111.46 billion, respectively.

The Eden Prairie, Minn.-based company lowered its 2025 EPS outlook to a range of $24.65 to $25.15 and its adjusted EPS projection to $26 to $26.50. Last quarter, UnitedHealth said it expected to generate full-year EPS of $28.15 to $28.65 and adjusted EPS from $29.50 to $30.00.

UnitedHealth attributed the outlook cuts to “heightened care activity indications” in its Medicare Advantage business, and “unanticipated changes in the profile of Optum Health members impacting planned 2025 reimbursement.”

CEO Andrew Witty said the company “did not perform up to our expectations, and we are aggressively addressing those challenges to position us well for the years ahead.”

UnitedHealth shares entered the day up about 16% since the start of the year, recovering from a February slump following a report that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating the company’s diagnosing practices.

While some retirees envision settling along the coastline, others are looking for an alternative to crowded beaches. If you’d still like to enjoy a warm summer, mild winter, and sunny skies, it might be time to consider other up-and-coming retirement destinations along the country’s Sun Belt. 

In Longview, Texas, for example, retirees are finding a surprisingly affordable retirement destination with an active community centered around small-town charm and natural appeal. Located in Gregg County, with a population of just over 83,700, Longview is quiet enough to provide a relaxing retirement backdrop without limiting access to resources like health care, entertainment, and restaurants.  

Cost of Living in Longview, TX

The general cost of living in Longview, TX is lower than the national average, which is a benefit for those in retirement concerned about managing expenses on a fixed income. 

The median household income in Gregg County, where Longview is located, is $64,809, about $15,800 less than the national median. Median monthly housing costs for the county are relatively low as well, coming in at just a little over $1,000 a month. While the housing and rental markets vary greatly across different regions, Longview’s monthly housing costs are still less than half the national average ($1,017 vs $2,120 nationwide).

Even within the Lone Star state, Longview is a relatively affordable city compared to other larger, more metropolitan areas (like Houston and Dallas). While the state’s median home price is around $337,800, houses in Longview have a median value of $185,800. This is also less than the national average of $419,200. For budget-conscious retirees looking to make the most of their resources, Longview’s relatively low housing costs and home values can be an attractive option for retirement.

Health Care and Accessibility

When selecting your ideal retirement destination, be proactive and realistic about what type of care, support, and services you could require in the coming years. As adults age, they will likely need ongoing medical treatment and specialized care. Around 85% of adults 65 and older have at least one chronic disease, such as heart disease, that requires ongoing management and treatment. 

While Longview is a relatively small city, it offers retirees access to several large hospital networks. Gregg County is home to 10 hospitals and 330 health care establishments. 

In terms of transportation, Longview’s options are limited. Owning and driving your own car may be best, considering the area surrounding Longview is relatively rural. You will, however, be able to access ride shares like Uber or Lyft if you don’t want to drive. Taxis are also available, but you’ll need to make arrangements ahead of time and expect longer wait times. Unlike major cities like New York or Los Angeles, they aren’t easily accessible from every street corner.

The Longview Transit bus system runs several routes daily, except Sundays and holidays. If you live outside the main city limits, however, you may have difficulties finding a stop near your home or destination, depending on where you’re headed.  

If you plan on traveling often (or plan to host family from out of town often), keep in mind the closest airport to Longview is in Dallas, about two hours away.

Lifestyle and Recreational Activities

What’s a retirement destination without fun things to do? Longview has more to it than meets the eye, and retirees may be pleasantly surprised at the variety of activities and community events happening all year. 

The residents of Longview celebrate big in true Texas fashion, from its springtime rodeo lineup to the Great Texas Balloon Race, Gregg County Fair, Fireworks & Freedom Fourth of July Celebration, and more. Longview hosts celebrations, festivals, and events every single month, making it an active, vibrant community hub for retirees looking to get involved and have some fun. 

If you enjoy a bit of learning while taking long, leisurely walks, you’ll want to visit must-see museums like:

Or, when the sun’s shining, and you’re looking to spend some time outdoors, go for a stroll through the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center. 

For those looking for a little more activity in retirement, Longview is within easy driving distance to Lake O’ the Pines, an 18,700-acre lake encompassing 9,000 acres of forest and land that offers prime opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and even bird watching.

Like many other southern cities, Longview boasts mild winters and hot summers, making it an optimal spot to enjoy outdoor activities nearly all year long. That said, those moving to Texas for the first time should be aware of the potential climate risks, including tornadoes, severe heat, and wildfires. Due to these potential concerns, FEMA ranks Longview’s climate risk as relatively moderate.

The Bottom Line

The Sun Belt region is home to many warm and inviting retirement destinations, but few offer the unique blend of affordability and entertainment that Longview does. With its sense of small-town community, combined with easy health care accessibility, it may just be an ideal destination for those looking to enjoy their retirement in a quiet and relaxed setting. 

The road ahead for business travel could be bumpy.

Recent US policy changes, including fast-moving trade policy and border enforcement, have contributed to an uncertain outlook for business travel, according to a new report. In poll results announced Wednesday, the Global Business Travel Association said many industry professionals expect business travel volume to drop this year.

More than one-third of global travel managers—those who oversee their company’s travel purchases—anticipate that volume will fall significantly in 2025, according to the GBTA, while less than half of global buyers expect their organizations’ business travel spending and volume to end the year unaffected.

The findings come as travel-industry firms are rethinking their outlooks for the year. United Airlines (UAL) late yesterday offered double-barreled guidance that included a recessionary scenario, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) earlier this month withdrew its full-year forecast.

Almost half of travel buyers responding to another GBTA survey reported earlier this year said they expected their companies to take more trips in 2025, and almost 60% anticipated increased travel spending this year. Hotel operator Marriott (MAR) said earlier this year that business travel had worked its way back to pre-pandemic levels.

Almost 30% of buyers are now predicting an average of a 20% decrease in their business travel spending this year, according to the new GBTA poll.

“Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions,” GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang said in a statement.