Report by Malwarebytes

Love/hate relationship: The AI affair. Young people love AI, but it’s breaking their trust

12 FINDINGSPublished Aug 11, 2026
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Key Findings

70% of young adults ages 18 to 22 experienced an AI-related scam in the past year.

AI Scams

50% of the general population experienced an AI-related scam in the past year.

AI Scams

24% of young adults have been a victim of an extortion scam.

ExtortionAI Scams

17% of the general population have been a victim of an extortion scam.

ExtortionAI Scams

19% of young adults have been a victim of a deepfake or virtual kidnapping scam.

DeepfakeKidnapping ScamAI Scams

8% of the general population have been a victim of a deepfake or virtual kidnapping scam.

DeepfakeKidnapping Scam

7% of the general population have been a victim of sextortion.

SextortionAI Scams

14% of young adults have been a victim of an impersonation scam.

ImpersonationIdentity TheftAI Scams

10% of the general population have been a victim of an impersonation scam.

ImpersonationIdentity Theft

12% of young adults have been a victim of a romance scam.

Romance ScamAI ScamsYoung Adults

10% of the general population have been a victim of a romance scam.

Romance ScamAI ScamsPublic Safety

8% of young adults have been a victim of sextortion.

SextortionAI Scams