New research from security firm McAfee reveals that the average person in the UK receives seven fake messages or scams per day, with 49% of Brits having clicked on or fallen for a scam in the past year. The surge is attributed to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which helps scammers craft more convincing messages.
Scams arrive via text, social media, and email, including Gmail, costing Brits an average of one hour per week verifying messages. Nearly half (49%) of respondents said scams have become harder to identify, and 31% of those who fell for a fake message lost money, with 18% losing over £100.
AI enables scammers to eliminate typos and errors, making fraudulent messages more believable. Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee, stated: 'With the advancements in AI, scam messages are more convincing than ever – in fact, the majority of Brits believe it is easier to solve the Rubik's cube than it is to tell real from fake messages.'
McAfee listed five common scam types to help Brits stay vigilant. The company advises thinking before clicking and using AI-driven tools to detect scams, as 48% of people said they would trust such technology to fight back.
