F-Secure Sounds the Alarm on Global Scam Pandemic with 2025 Scam Intelligence & Impacts Report

HELSINKI, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With scam rates doubling in the last year, global consumer cyber security leader F-Secure is sounding the alarm and exposing the scale of the scam crisis with today's release of its signature Scam Intelligence & Impacts Report. The new report, featuring unmatched insight from global cyber security experts, takes a deep dive into the manipulation, emotional toll, and systemic risks that make scams one of the most dangerous digital crimes of our lifetime.

The report reveals that confidence in spotting scams is dangerously misplaced. While 69% of people believe they can identify a scam, 43% still fell victim in the past year. In the United States, scam rates doubled from 2024 to 2025. And young adults, often considered "digital natives," were found to be more than twice as exposed as seniors.

"Scamming people online has never been easier than it is today. The rising number of victims shows just how many ways criminals can exploit technology, the internet, and human trust for illicit profit," said Laura Kankaala, Head of Threat Intelligence at F-Secure. "While awareness of scams is higher than ever, we're seeing concerning trends across the world. Cyber security for everyday citizens is not a challenge that time will solve—it's an urgent issue facing younger generations for years to come."

F-Secure Threat Intelligence Researcher Megan Squire adds: "Scams are not small-time fraud anymore; they are industrialized, AI-powered, and psychologically manipulative. The numbers are shocking, but behind every statistic is a real person who has lost money, confidence, or peace of mind. This is a wake-up call for consumers, service providers, and for the entire digital ecosystem."

Key Findings:

• False confidence fuels victimization: 69% believe they can spot scams, but 43% of these were still tricked.
• Escalating rates: U.S. scams doubled year-over-year.
• Young adults most at risk: Ages 18–34 face more than double the risk of older adults.
• Widespread silence: Only 7% of scams are reported, with stigma keeping victims quiet.
• Demand for protection: 50% of consumers are ready to pay for scam protection, with younger adults expecting it as a default service.

A Call to Action
Fighting scams cannot be left to individuals alone. Service providers are uniquely positioned to protect millions of people, through embedded scam defenses and continuous education that targets behavior and emotion, not just red flags.

"To stop this pandemic, we need to shift from blaming victims to building resilience. Service providers have the opportunity to lead this effort by embedding protection into the services people rely on every day," said Fredrik Torstensson, Chief Partner Business Officer at F-Secure. "The data is clear: consumers want protection, and it's time to make scam defense as essential as internet access itself."

Chapters include: 

• 2025 Scam Landscape: How Overconfidence Leaves Consumers Vulnerable
• Humanizing Scams: "How Could You Be So Stupid?"—A Victim's Story
• The AI Scam Boom: 4 Ways Scammers Are Using Artificial Intelligence in 2025
• The Silent Toll of Scams: Breaking the Cycle of Shame and Inaction
• Risk vs Reality: Crypto Feels Dangerous—But Is Fear Justified?
• The Future of Trust: Reckoning with an Increasingly Unreliable Digital World
• Inside Scam Centers: The Dual Realities of Privilege and Exploitation
• The Future of Scams: What the Next 5 Years Could Bring

The 2025 F-Secure Scam Intelligence & Impacts Report is available now at f-secure.com.  

F-Secure is setting the pace to be the #1 provider of scam protection in the world. To explore F-Secure's innovative cyber security portfolio for service providers, visit f-secure.com/partners.

About F-Secure
F-Secure makes every digital moment more secure, for everyone. We deliver brilliantly simple, frictionless security experiences that make life easier for the tens of millions of people we protect and for our more than 200 service provider partners. For over 35 years, we've led the cyber security industry, inspired by a pioneering spirit born out of a shared commitment to do better by working together.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Meghan Sawyer
Public Relations & Social Media Manager, North America
[email protected]

Joel Latto
Public Relations & Social Media Manager, EMEA
[email protected]

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SOURCE F-Secure