Introduction
The prevalence of mobile scams and threats has become a significant concern globally, affecting a substantial portion of mobile users. These scams result in various forms of harm, including financial [2] [5] [6] [7] [8], emotional [1] [2] [6] [7], and reputational damage. This report delves into the extent of the issue, the channels through which scams are encountered, and the demographic groups most affected. It also highlights the challenges users face in identifying scams and the measures being implemented to combat these threats.
Description
Almost half (44%) of mobile users globally report daily exposure to scams and threats [1] [3], with 78% encountering them at least weekly. Victims experience significant harm [6], including financial loss [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], emotional distress [6], and damage to their reputations [6]. The highest risk is observed in the United States (51%) and the United Kingdom (49%) [1]. A survey of 1,300 adults across the US [3], UK [2] [3] [7] [8], Austria [3], Germany [3], and Switzerland revealed that many respondents (66%) find it increasingly difficult to distinguish scams from legitimate communications [1] [3], and over a third (36%) have fallen victim to mobile scams in the past year [1]. The emotional repercussions of falling victim to these scams are severe, with 75% of victims reporting serious emotional consequences [7], including mental health issues such as anxiety and depression [7]. Financial repercussions are prevalent among scam victims [6], with 25% experiencing harassment or blackmail, 19% having their private information exposed, and 15% suffering permanent financial damage [4]. Additionally, 52% of victims report suffering losses, with 18% needing to freeze their credit and 8% having accounts fraudulently opened in their names [6].
Scams are primarily encountered through various channels: email (65%) [3], phone calls (53%) [3], SMS (50%) [3], social media (47%) [3], messaging apps (40%) [1] [3], and online buying/selling platforms (36%) [1] [3]. Social engineering threats are the most common (74%) [3], affecting nearly 20% of users [1], while mobile phishing attacks have surged [3], with a study indicating that 82% of phishing sites now target mobile devices [3]. Alarmingly, 37% of users have faced extortion scams, with 17% falling victim [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], including 7% to sextortion [4] [5]. Younger generations [2] [7] [8], particularly Gen Z [2], are disproportionately affected [2], with 58% encountering scams and 28% falling victim to extortion schemes [2] [8]. In contrast, 35% of Gen X and 23% of Boomers reported encountering scams [7], with lower victimization rates [7]. Despite the widespread nature of these scams [2], only 17% of victims report them to authorities [2], a figure that drops to 14% among younger users [2].
A report reveals that 77% of individuals are worried about mobile scams [4], primarily fearing financial losses (73%) [4] [5] [6], account lockouts (70%) [4] [5], and identity theft (68%) [4] [5] [6]. Additionally, 66% express concern about the potential for increasingly realistic AI-driven scams [5]. Despite these fears [4] [5] [6], only 15% feel confident in identifying scams on their mobile devices [5] [6], and only 20% of users implement standard security measures like antivirus software or VPNs [4]. In response to the growing threat [2] [8], Malwarebytes has introduced Scam Guard [2] [5] [6] [8], a free AI-powered tool within its Mobile Security app designed to provide real-time feedback on scams and educate users on digital safety [2]. This tool allows users to assess suspicious texts [5], emails [1] [3] [4] [5], phone numbers [5], links [5], images [5], or online messages [5], helping them identify and report suspicious content while reducing the stigma associated with falling victim to scams [8]. As cyber threats become more sophisticated [1], there is a pressing need to empower users with the tools and knowledge to effectively identify [1], prevent [1] [2] [3] [6] [7], and report scams in the increasingly complex digital landscape [1].
Conclusion
The impact of mobile scams is profound, affecting users’ financial stability, emotional well-being, and personal security. As these threats evolve, it is crucial to implement effective mitigation strategies, such as enhancing user education and deploying advanced security tools like Malwarebytes’ Scam Guard. Future efforts must focus on increasing awareness, improving reporting mechanisms, and developing innovative solutions to stay ahead of cybercriminals. By empowering users with the necessary knowledge and resources, we can better protect individuals and reduce the prevalence of mobile scams in our digital world.
References
[1] https://cybermaterial.com/half-of-mobile-users-face-daily-scams/
[2] https://www.malwarebytes.com/press/2025/06/10/tap-swipe-scam-new-malwarebytes-research-reveals-mobile-scams-are-a-daily-threat-in-2025-emotionally-and-financially-devastating-yet-widely-underreported
[3] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/half-of-mobile-users-now-face/
[4] https://trustcrypt.com/daily-encounter-rate-of-mobile-scams-reaches-44-according-to-malwarebytes-research/
[5] https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/scams/2025/06/44-of-people-encounter-a-mobile-scam-every-single-day-malwarebytes-finds
[6] https://sechub.in/view/3068581
[7] https://www.digit.fyi/mobile-scams-are-now-a-daily-threat-for-nearly-half-of-all-users/
[8] https://cybertechnologyinsights.com/technology/malwarebytes-daily-mobile-scams-in-2025-cause-emotional-financial-harm-yet-underreported/
