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It's no secret that today's scammers are becoming increasingly more cunning and adept in their schemes. Many use romance, false promises of cash prizes, and other underhanded tactics to persuade people to fork over money.

Unfortunately, getting money back from scammers is often easier said than done. Many people end up having their checking accounts overdrawn, their life savings depleted, and otherwise lose time and resources.

Due to the devastating nature of these scams, a new poll shows that more and more people feel apprehensive about becoming potential victims.

Reviewing public concerns about scammers

In new data from Gallup, 57% admitted to having occasional or persistent worries about getting scammed. However, a staggering 72% revealed their own concerns about becoming identity theft victims.

Part of what's fueling these concerns is the fact that many people know others who've fallen victim to fraud. Sometimes, they've inadvertently given fraudsters access to their financial accounts. Other times, they've been swindled in different ways and/or had their identities stolen.

Recent studies have shown that younger people can also be vulnerable to scams. In many cases, the public thinks of scam victims as older individuals with less awareness about technology. However, the frequent use of technology - something younger people have a reputation for - can also leave the door open to more elaborate swindlers.

Protecting yourself from scams

Whether young or old, all Americans should be working to guard themselves from bad actors and criminals looking to steal their money.

If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is. When a person is told to deposit a check and then send back money, this too is a scam. It will lead to the person's account being overdrawn once the bank realizes the check was fake.

Sending money to people you don't know, sending money to apply for jobs, get a job, rent property you haven't seen, etc., are also examples of scams to avoid.

At the end of the day, there are no free lunches. Those who claim otherwise likely do not have your best intentions at heart and may be targeting your financial resources.