Criminals aren’t having a hard time these days, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) tools that make their malicious schemes more convincing than ever. Recently, Malwarebytes, a prominent internet security company, has raised alarms about the “havoc” that’s unfolding from these sophisticated scams designed to intimidate and defraud innocent people.
Here’s the thing: AI has advanced to a point where it can create realistic fake voices and videos. This brings high-pressure tactics like sextortion, deepfake scams, and even virtual kidnappings into sharper focus, making them frighteningly believable. This level of deception shouldn’t be underestimated, as many of us might assume we’re too savvy to fall for these tricks. But that’s a dangerous mindset.
Malwarebytes emphasizes how powerful these scams have become due to advancements in targeting users who leave significant digital footprints. And guess who’s catching the brunt of this wave? Gen Z and Millennials. Alarmingly, they account for about two-thirds of all extortion scam victims. The operations usually target young men, zeroing in on their “privacy, reputations, and peace of mind.” Clearly, the stakes are high.
According to a survey by Malwarebytes, victims report a myriad of distressing experiences—everything from threats of releasing revealing images to elaborate ruses about accidents involving family members. More than 70% of those who fell victim are either part of Generation Z or Millennials, with over 60% being men—highlighting a troubling trend.
What’s most concerning is that many people aren’t taking mobile scams seriously at all. That nonchalance translates to a huge gap in protective measures. Malwarebytes is urging everyone to adopt essential security practices such as using antivirus software, setting strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping systems up to date. Don’t forget about the “permission hygiene”—that’s making sure you know what apps can access on your devices!
