Mobile Scams and Threats Exposure

**Mobile Scams Surge: Nearly Half of Users Face Daily Threats, Report Finds** A new report from Malwarebytes reveals that **44% of mobile users** encounter scams or threats daily, with **66%** struggling to distinguish legitimate communications from fraudulent ones. The *Tap, Swipe, Scam* study, based on a survey of **1,300 adults** across the **US, UK, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland**, highlights the growing risk of mobile-based attacks—both for individuals and enterprises, particularly those allowing **BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)** policies. **Key Findings:** - **Highest exposure rates** were in the **US (51%)** and **UK (49%)**. - **36% of respondents** admitted to falling victim to a scam, while **36% reported malware infections**. - **Primary attack vectors** included **email (65%)**, phone calls (53%), SMS (50%), social media (47%), and messaging apps (40%). - **Social engineering (53%)** was the most common threat, with **19% of users** falling victim. - **Extortion schemes** affected **17%**, including ransomware (25%), sextortion (24%), and deepfake scams (20%). **18% reported virtual kidnapping attempts**. The report also underscores the **psychological impact** of these attacks, with **75% of victims** experiencing emotional harm—**46% citing mental health issues** and **25% facing blackmail or harassment**. **Broader Trends:** - **Mobile phishing ("mishing")** has surged, with **82% of phishing sites** now targeting mobile devices, per a **Zimperium study** from September 2024. - **August 2024 saw a peak of over 1,000 mobile phishing attacks per day**, reflecting the rapid evolution of cybercriminal tactics. Malwarebytes’ **David Ruiz** emphasized the **personal and technical dimensions** of mobile threats, noting that **AI and deepfake technologies** are amplifying risks. The report calls for **better user empowerment** to combat scams, though it stops short of prescriptive advice.