With the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI), online cyber fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated. A recent survey revealed that 9 out of 10 Americans have already experienced digital scams or cyberattacks, with about 1 in 6 actually losing money.
According to a survey of approximately 5,000 U.S. adults conducted between March and April by Consumer Reports, Aspen Digital, and the Global Cyber Alliance, 90% of respondents experienced cyberattacks or digital scams, while 17% reported suffering financial losses.
Experts pointed out that AI is significantly lowering the barrier to entry for fraudulent crimes. In the past, analyzing personal information and crafting customized scam messages required substantial time and money, but AI now makes this process fast and affordable. In particular, fraudsters can use AI to analyze personal data and financial information obtained through data leaks, then impersonate financial institutions like banks to propose tailored loan products. Currently, about 1 in 5 scams involves personalized content, and this figure is expected to grow rapidly.
Deepfake technology is also escalating the threat. Unlike clumsy phishing emails of the past, AI allows scammers to create sophisticated frauds capable of deceiving even tech-savvy consumers.
To prevent damages, experts recommend actively using two-factor or multi-factor authentication (MFA). They also suggested the ‘9-second rule’βtaking 9 seconds to pause and verify before clicking links in suspicious text messages or emailsβas a simple yet effective countermeasure.
