Skip to content
Scammers Target Phones with AI-Enhanced Tactics

Scammers Target Phones with AI-Enhanced Tactics

First seen 22 Oct 2026, 18:13 UTC • •
API

Article Content

Browse articles
ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 22, 2026 at 18:44 UTC
  • •Text scams caused $470 million in losses in 2024, a 26% increase from the previous year.
  • •AI has made voice phishing more convincing, doubling incidents in the first half of 2026.
  • •85% of survey respondents find it hard to identify scams, highlighting the need for better awareness.

Scammers are increasingly targeting mobile phones using advanced techniques, including AI-generated voice phishing (vishing) and text scams. In 2024, consumers reported losses of $470 million from text scams, a 26% increase from 2023. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlights that text messages have a 98% open rate, making them an attractive vector for scammers. AI has improved the sophistication of scams, with 16% of adults reporting receiving voice-cloned calls in the past year. A recent Malwarebytes survey found that 85% of respondents struggle to distinguish scams from legitimate communications. Recommendations for protection include avoiding unsolicited messages, keeping operating systems updated, and using strong passwords.

Start a free Starter trial for enhanced analysis

Ask AI about this cluster

Updated just now How this analysis works

Timeline

2024-01-01
Text scam losses reported
Consumers reported losing $470 million to text scams in 2024, up 26% from 2023.
Malwarebytes
2026-01-01
Vishing incidents double
Voice phishing incidents reportedly doubled in the first half of 2026 according to CrowdStrike's report.
Malwarebytes
2026-10-22
Malwarebytes survey results published
A survey found that 85% of respondents struggle to identify scams, up from 66% last year.
Malwarebytes

More articles in this cluster (3)

Extracted Entities (7)

1 / 3

Common questions

What types of scams are prevalent?
Text scams and voice phishing (vishing) are currently the most common, with significant financial losses reported.
How can I protect myself from these scams?
Avoid unsolicited messages, keep your operating system updated, and use strong, unique passwords for accounts.
What is the impact of AI on scams?
AI has made scams more sophisticated, particularly in voice phishing, making them harder to detect.