F-Secure’s annual Scam Intelligence & Impacts Report found a public that still is being victimized but also has an acute awareness of — and willingness to pay for — cybersecurity protection.
The survey found a great deal of interest among consumers. A vast majority (93%) feel that it is important that their telecommunications provider offer cybersecurity. The priority on cybersecurity is illustrated by the fact that 82% say it influences provider choice. Nearly two-thirds — 64% — would switch providers based on this criterion.
Other results from the survey, which was based on responses from 1,000 U.S. consumers in January:
- 48% said that they would pay for scam protection.
- 90% of Americans experienced one or more scam attempts during the past year.
- Monthly scam attempts were experienced by 69% of respondents.
- 57% of scam victims lost money. That is up from 17% in last year’s U.S. survey.
- Adults aged 18 to 34 are more than three times as likely to for a scam. Older adults are more likely to actually lose money, and 82% of victims aged 65 to 74 did so.
The report listed no fewer than 14 types of spam. The top five: fake invoice or debt scams (31%); investment scams (17%); banking or payment scams (10%); shopping scams (6%) and tech support scams (5%).
The list of actual victims was similar, though the exact order differed. The top five in that category were banking or payment scams (22%); investment scams (19%); shopping scams (16%); fake invoice or debt scams (13%) and tech support scams (5%).
“Consumers are sending a clear message through their expectations and purchasing decisions, and it’s not just about connectivity anymore,” F-Secure president and CEO Timo Laaksonen said in a press release. “Trust and security are now major reasons why customers choose a provider, and another reason they stay.”