Malwarebytes: Why Do 44% of People Face Mobile Scams Daily?

Telecommunications providers must strengthen cybersecurity defences as AI-powered mobile scams become a daily threat for nearly half of users, according to new research from Malwarebytes.

The cybersecurity firm's report — Tap, Swipe, Scam: How Everyday Mobile Habits Carry Real Risk — reveals critical vulnerabilities in mobile security that demand immediate industry attention.

Based on a global survey of 1,300 mobile users, the findings demonstrate how cyber threats have evolved beyond technical exploits to target human psychology and behaviour patterns.

For cybersecurity leaders in telecom and infrastructure sectors, this represents both a security challenge and an opportunity to redefine digital trust.“It’s clear that mobile threats aren’t just technical, they’re deeply personal,” says David Ruiz, Senior Privacy Advocate at Malwarebytes.

“Our report reveals the scale of the issue and its psychological impact.

"As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and cybercriminals truly adopt deepfake and AI technologies, we must go beyond raising awareness and empower users with the right tools and knowledge.

“No one should accept scams as the cost of digital life.”

Daily scam exposure reaches critical levels

The data shows 44% of users encounter mobile scams daily, with particularly high exposure in the United States, 51%, and United Kingdom, 49%.

The DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) follows closely behind at 38%.

Despite growing cybersecurity awareness, 66% of respondents struggle to distinguish scams from legitimate content, while only 15% feel confident in their detection abilities.

This gap in user protection creates substantial risk for telecom providers whose services increasingly rely on digital interactions.

The findings suggest current mobile security measures fail to match the sophistication of modern social engineering attacks.

Financial and psychological impact of mobile fraud

The report documents severe consequences beyond financial loss, reported by 52% of victims.

Three-quarters of scam victims experience emotional distress, with 46% suffering long-term mental health effects including anxiety and eroded trust in digital systems.

For CISOs and security executives, these findings highlight the need to incorporate psychological resilience into cybersecurity strategies.

As mobile platforms become primary channels for business and personal communication, protecting user trust is now a core security requirement.

Who is most vulnerable?

Younger users face disproportionate risks from evolving cyber threats.

The research shows 58% of Gen Z respondents encounter advanced scams like sextortion and deepfake-enabled extortion, with 28% falling victim — nearly double the rate of Gen X and quadruple that of Boomers.

Two-thirds of all respondents express concern about AI-enhanced fraud, suggesting cybersecurity teams must prioritise next-generation threat detection capabilities to protect high-risk demographics.

A sector-wide call to action

Malwarebytes has introduced Scam Guard, a mobile security feature providing real-time scam detection and education.

This reflects a broader industry trend where telecom providers partner with cybersecurity firms to embed protection directly into mobile ecosystems.

For security leaders, such integrations represent a strategic opportunity to intercept threats before they reach users while maintaining seamless digital experiences.

Underreporting masks true cybercrime impact

Only 17% of victims report scams to authorities — 14% among younger users — despite the FBI's IC3 reporting US$16.6bn in 2024 cybercrime losses.

This underreporting obscures the full scope of mobile security risks, complicating threat intelligence efforts.

Enhanced data sharing between telecom providers, government agencies and cybersecurity vendors could improve threat visibility and response coordination.

But the mobile scam epidemic presents telecommunications companies with an opportunity to lead in digital trust.

By implementing advanced detection systems, user education programmes and proactive security measures, telecom providers can transform from infrastructure operators to cybersecurity guardians.

As AI-powered threats continue evolving, the industry must move beyond reactive security models to build comprehensive protection frameworks that address both technical and human vulnerabilities.

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