In 2022, 15 percent of respondents in selected countries worldwide who fell victim to a scam said they realized they were scammed after clicking on an e-mail link. A further 12 percent claimed following a link received via SMS, while ten percent clicked on a fake news article and realized it was a scam. Overall, 40 percent of surveyed respondents stated having encountered any scam.
Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector
Characteristic
Share of respondents
I clicked on an email link that I realized was a scam
15%
I clicked on a SMS link that I realized was a scam
12%
I clicked on a fake news article that was a scam
10%
I clicked on a scam link posted on social media
10%
I clicked on a fraudulent package notification link
9%
I connected with someone on social media and was targeted with a scam/ransom attempt
8%
I opened a link or message that was a cost-of-living scam
7%
I discovered an app on my phone that I did not download
6%
I discovered an app on my phone was tracking my location or other personal information without my knowledge
6%
I paid a fee to a recruitment agency and did not receive the services and/or job opportunities I was promised
4%
I tried to apply for Universal Credit / unemployment allowance / unemployment benefits but someone had already done so in my name
The source surveyed 7,021 adults in Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom between November and December 2022 and 5,004 adults in the US were surveyed in January 2023.
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Gen Digital. (February 28, 2023). Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/
Gen Digital. "Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector." Chart. February 28, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/
Gen Digital. (2023). Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/
Gen Digital. "Share of Adults Worldwide Who Fell Victim to a Scam in 2022, by Vector." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Feb 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/
Gen Digital, Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Share of adults worldwide who fell victim to a scam in 2022, by vector [Graph], Gen Digital, February 28, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389388/scam-rate-in-selected-countries-by-vector/
