The research published in March 2026, shows scams rising sharply across the globe and becoming increasingly sophisticated. But the deeper story is not found in the numbers alone. Fraud inflicts damage far beyond financial loss, as every transaction or payment reflects a human experience with lasting consequences.
Key findings reveal:
- People are trying to protect themselves, but uncertainty remains. While many use security tools, only 13% fully understand what protections they’re entitled to if scammed, leaving critical gaps in awareness and confidence.
- Fraud is becoming a daily reality with more than seven in ten adults (71%) believing financial scams are increasing, and nearly half saying the rise is significant.
- Scams are no longer rare events: In just two years, 26% of adults have been directly targeted, and one in ten has already lost money.
- Technology is amplifying fraud, with one in five people saying they have encountered AI enabled scams, making fraud harder to detect and easier to scale.
- The damage goes far beyond financial loss with more than half of victims (52%) reporting anger or frustration, and almost all (97%) change how they behave – from how they pay to what they share online.
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