Happy New Year! 2025 is now upon us, and with it comes the promise of new beginnings and clean slates. However, with the jubilations comes a wave of scams aimed at targeting people wishing to turn over a new leaf.
Selling Fake Weight Loss Pills and Machines
You’ll notice a recurring theme as I cover each of these tips: they all target classic New Year’s resolutions and people wanting to change their lives. The first few months of a new year are flush with people trying to get themselves back on track, which makes them ideal for scammers to target.
Many people use the new year as an opportunity to shed some pounds, so scammers introduce a wide range of healthcare products during the first few months. These go from health loss pills to machines that promise to help you lose weight without exercise.
As reported by the UK Citizens Advice Bureau:
Complaints made to Citizens Advice include one slimmer who was told they would lose three and half inches from their waist through sessions with a slimming machine. They did not shed anything from the first six sessions, and were very dubious that the remaining nine sessions would make any difference.
Another complained of being let down by their liposuction providers as the trader disappeared after just three sessions. Consumers also highlighted problems with free or small-fee trials for diet pills when in fact companies then go on to take up to £100 from their bank account without their permission.
As such, be extra skeptical about weight loss products over the new year; they may be a scam.
Selling Fraudulent Gym Memberships
Another common New Year’s resolution people make is to go to the gym more. Legitimate gyms often sell discounts on their plans to capitalize on the increase in interest, and there’s nothing wrong with those. However, some tricksters take advantage of the rush by offering fake gym memberships.
These usually advertise a “too good to be true” deal that encourages people to sign up for a plan. Once people hand over their money, the scammers run with it and are never heard from again. As such, if you want a good deal on a gym membership, don’t rely on random internet advertisements; contact establishments you trust and see if they have any New Year’s offers available.
Taking Advantage of Dating Sites
The turn of the year encourages single people to see if they can find “the one” in the coming months. As such, dating sites usually see a spike in traffic after the ball drops. In fact, as reported by the New York Post, Tinder claims that the period between the first Sunday of the new year and Valentine’s Day sees more activity than usual.
Unfortunately, that also makes it the perfect time for scammers to trick people into handing over lots of money in relationship scams. If you’re looking for the ideal one in 2025, check out our guides on how to spot and avoid an online dating scammer and how cybercriminals use AI to perform romance scams.
Offering Fake Vacations
Finally, if your New Year’s resolution involves traveling the world and seeing new cultures, you’ll want to be ten steps ahead of the scammers. Some people can spot a lost tourist from a mile away, and will trick them into handing over money or stealing their items. If you want to learn more about that, our sister site, TheTravel, has explained some of the top tourist scams you may find abroad.
However, there are plenty of scams waiting before you even board a plane. Some travel sites will advertise fake trips and hotel bookings that steal people’s money, and the rise of generative AI means that cybercriminals can create realistic-looking pictures to trick people into believing it’s real. As such, be sure to keep an eye out for AI travel scams and only book through legitimate channels.
With 2025 in full swing, scammers are looking for ways to trick you out of your hard-earned money. Perhaps make a New Year’s resolution that you’ll never fall for their traps.
