Study in partnership with GASA shows that consumers lost more than US$1 trillion to scams in 2024, worldwide
Research of Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, reveals a wide range of consumer perceptions and habits regarding different types of digital scams. The Global State of Scams Report 2024*, conducted in partnership with GASA (Global Anti-Scam Alliance), lists common misconceptions that make people more vulnerable to cybercriminals.
More than a third of consumers believe that they can only fall victim to online scams if they share too much information online. However, with the rise in data breaches, criminals are now obtaining consumers’ personal data through private channels. With this information in hand, they are able to commit a range of crimes, including scams, fraud and identity theft.
The study also shows that 451% of respondents believe that scams can be easily identified by grammatical or spelling errors in text messages or emails. While this has been an effective way to detect scams in the past, cybercriminals are now using Generative AI tools to create convincing messages by eliminating these telltale signs.
“Technologies have advanced to ensure online security, but people need to keep in mind that each person’s behavior and choices on the internet are equally important for preventing digital risks. The adoption of good practices, both by companies and citizens, is essential to protect themselves and contribute to a safer virtual space,” highlights Flávio Silva, Technology Director at Trend Micro Brazil.
According to GASA, consumers lost more than US$1 trillion to scams worldwide last year. Despite this alarming figure, the survey, conducted among 6,000 consumers in five countries, shows that only 151% of respondents discuss scam prevention with family or friends.
“Scams are among the most dangerous challenges in the digital world today, not just for seniors, but for people of all ages. We are committed to addressing this issue as a priority and value our collaboration with Trend Micro to protect the general public through educational initiatives,” said Russell Slater, director of Corporate Partnerships at the National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Cybercriminals continue to use increasingly aggressive techniques to target consumers of all ages around the world. Trend Micro is committed to addressing this issue by:
- Innovation: The latest version of Trend Micro ScamCheck helps consumers identify potential scams and emerging AI-based threats like deepfakes.
- Education: Since 2008, Trend Micro has impacted more than 5 million people through educational programs and events. In March 2025, the company will launch a new webinar series dedicated to combating scams.
- Collaboration: Trend Micro is the first founding partner of GASA and will be a Leadership Sponsor of the organization’s global summits in 2025, including the next summit, which will be held in London on March 26 and 27. At the summit, Trend Micro executives will lead a track on scam prevention.
For more information about the Summit, visit: Link.
About Trend Micro
Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, helps make the world a safer place to exchange digital information. Powered by decades of cybersecurity expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s AI-powered cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of individuals and organizations across the cloud, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, Trend Micro delivers a powerful array of advanced threat defenses optimized for environments such as AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for faster, better detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to secure and simplify their connected world.
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