Credential Theft Surge Driven by Technology in 2025

In 2025, the Bank of Italy received 750 reports of fraud, a 2% increase from 2024. Nearly half of these cases involved the theft of account access credentials and personal identification details. Social engineering techniques, including smishing, vishing, and phishing, were responsible for 57% of credential thefts. Additionally, 60% of reported scams involved spoofing, where fraudsters disguised their identities. The Bank of Italy's reports indicate a 21% rise in disputes related to fraudulent activities, with phishing and spoofing being the most common methods. Reports of scams misusing the Bank of Italy’s name doubled, including cases involving AI-generated content. Refunds were denied in 28% of cases where customers acted with gross negligence regarding their security credentials. The increasing sophistication of these scams highlights a significant threat to consumers and financial institutions.

Key Points: • 750 fraud reports were filed with the Bank of Italy in 2025, marking a 2% increase from 2024. • 57% of credential thefts were executed using social engineering techniques like phishing and smishing. • Reports of scams misusing the Bank of Italy's name doubled in 2025, including AI-generated content.