Report by Malwarebytes
AI-driven scams are preying on Gen Z’s digital lives
Key Findings
53% of extortion victims are non-white.
52% of victims of other types of mobile scams (i.e., not extortion) are Gen Z or Millennial.
45% of extortion victims are parents.
24% of victims of AI-driven scams had their personal information stolen.
43% of Gen Z users have been a target of AI-driven scams.
Gen Z and Millennials account for two in three victims of extortion scams.
29% of victims of AI-driven scams suffered work or school consequences.
21% of victims of AI-driven scams had financial accounts opened in their name.
One in three mobile users has been targeted by an extortion scam.
Nearly one in five mobile users has fallen victim to an extortion scam.
Among AI scam victims and targets, 81% agree with the statement "I understand that sharing personal information with apps, on social media, or on messaging services can be risky, but I am okay with that risk".
32% of victims of AI-driven scams suffered reputation damage.
63% of extortion targets experience scam attempts daily.
Nearly 9 in 10 extortion victims reported emotional harm because of the scam they experienced.
38% of Gen Z have been a target of sextortion.
58% of Gen Z have been targets of an extortion scam.
64% of extortion scam targets are Gen Z or Millennial.
41% of extortion targets are parents.
One in six mobile users reported they've been a target of sextortion.
65% of extortion scam victims are male.
28% of Gen Z have been victims of an extortion scam.
Among AI scam victims and targets, 62% are iPhone users (vs. 51% overall).
40% of targets of other types of mobile scams (i.e., not extortion) are Gen Z or Millennial.
Seven in ten extortion victims say they are confident they can spot a scam.
52% of extortion victims agree 'I’m more likely to click a link on my phone than on my laptop'.
46% of extortion targets agree 'I’m more likely to click a link on my phone than on my laptop'.
21% of extortion victims experienced damage to their reputation.
One in five mobile users has been the target of a deepfake scam.
69% of extortion scam victims are Gen Z or Millennial.
19% of extortion victims experienced consequences at work or school.
Among AI scam victims and targets, 45% are Gen Z (vs. 31% for extortion victims and targets overall).
60% of extortion scam targets are male.
78% of extortion victims experience scam attempts daily.
35% of extortion victims experienced blackmail or harassment.
More than half of extortion victims believe they could recoup any financial losses.