Nine out of ten residents of the USA have encountered attempts at digital fraud or cyberattacks, and 17% reported financial losses. The study also recorded a decline in Americans' trust in the protection of personal data.
WHAT THE STUDY SHOWED
According to Consumer Reports, a survey of 4,682 adult Americans conducted in March and April 2026 showed that 91% of respondents had encountered at least one attempt at digital fraud or a cyberattack. At the same time, 17% reported losing money as a result of such incidents.
Of the total number of those surveyed, 10% said they had lost money permanently, while another 7% managed to recover their funds.
HOW AI IS CHANGING SCAM SCHEMES
The report's authors note that artificial intelligence (AI) makes digital attacks easier to carry out. With its help, criminals can more quickly create personalised fraudulent messages and use information about potential victims.
According to the study, 20% of Americans who encountered attempts at fraud said that the most recent such attempt had been tailored to their personal data. Among those who received a fraudulent message by phone, this figure was 32%.
Consumer Reports President and CEO Phil Radford said that AI makes fraud faster, cheaper and more personalised. In his view, countering such threats requires joint efforts by companies and government bodies.
WHAT AMERICANS ARE LOSING TRUST IN
A separate Consumer Reports survey conducted in May 2026 among 2,082 adult Americans revealed a decline in citizens' confidence in the security of personal information.
Only 32% of respondents said they were at least somewhat confident in the protection of their personal data. A year earlier, the equivalent figure was 48%. The share of those who are not at all confident in the confidentiality of their information rose from 16% to 29%.
WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIGITAL SECURITY
The question of responsibility for countering digital fraud was also included in the study. 29% of Americans believe that the main responsibility should lie with the owners of digital platforms, including social networks, messaging apps and marketplaces.
Another 18% place the main responsibility on the federal government, 16% on users themselves, and 14% on financial organisations.
At the same time, Americans are already using various methods of protection. 69% check links in emails and text messages before clicking on them, 60% use multi-factor authentication, and 48% have enabled automatic software updates.
HOW THE PAYMENT METHOD AFFECTS REFUNDS
The study also revealed differences in the ability to recover funds after fraudulent transactions. Among Americans who paid by credit card transfer, 61% reported getting their money back. For debit cards, this figure was 45%.
In the case of peer-to-peer money transfer services such as Zelle and Venmo, only 15% of those surveyed who used these payment methods managed to recover their funds. Among those who paid with cryptocurrency, 5% got their money back.
The report's authors emphasise that protecting users requires not only individual precautions but also the involvement of businesses and the state. Among the proposed measures are improving mechanisms for filing fraud complaints and strengthening the liability of digital platforms.
CONTEXT
Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office warned Kazakhstanis about fake advertising for investment platforms using deepfakes of celebrities and promises of ultra-high income. One of the victims was a resident of Taldykorgan, who after seeing the advertisement transferred more than 7 million tenge to third parties.