A new NordVPN survey shows Americans are scared of the wrong cybercrime. While 68% of respondents said hacking worries them most, the real damage comes from scam calls and emails. These scams cost victims an average of $1,200 per incident—ten times more than the average hacking loss of $120. The survey polled 1,000 U.S. adults in June 2024 and highlights how people misjudge where the real danger lies.

Scams hit harder than hacking, but people don’t see it

Scam calls and emails are the top financial threat, yet only 12% of Americans listed them as their biggest concern. Hacking, which ranks second in actual damage, tops the fear list. Experts say this mismatch comes from media coverage and pop culture portraying hackers as hoodie-wearing geniuses breaking into systems. In reality, scammers rely on psychology—urgency, fear, and trust—to steal money and data.

Scammers use tricks that work because people trust their own judgment too much. Over half of respondents (54%) admitted they skip basic steps like updating passwords or checking sender emails. That complacency costs them. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged $12.5 billion in losses from scams in 2023, with impersonation scams leading the way.

AI is making scams harder to spot

Scammers now use AI tools to clone voices and generate realistic phishing emails. A 2023 study by Stanford University found AI voices can trick people 40% of the time, even when listeners know the call is fake. NordVPN’s survey found 37% of Americans have received a call or message that sounded real but turned out to be a scam.

Phishing emails have also gotten smarter. They mimic real brands, include personal details pulled from data breaches, and use urgent language like “Your account will be locked in 24 hours.” The survey showed 58% of Americans couldn’t reliably spot a fake email from a real one. Even tech-savvy users fall for these tricks when the email looks perfect.

Older adults are the top target—but younger people aren’t safe either

People over 65 lose the most money to scams, averaging $3,000 per incident, according to the FTC. But younger adults aren’t immune. The NordVPN survey found 41% of 18-34-year-olds clicked a suspicious link in the past year, compared to 29% of those over 55. Scammers target everyone, using different tactics for different age groups.

Scammers often pose as tech support, banks, or even family members in distress. One common trick is the “grandparent scam,” where a caller pretends to be a grandchild needing emergency cash. These calls spiked 20% in 2023, per the FTC. Scammers also use romance scams, fake job offers, and investment fraud to target victims.

Basic steps can stop most scams—if people actually use them

Experts say the fix starts with simple habits. Updating passwords regularly, enabling two-factor authentication, and verifying unexpected requests can block most scams. NordVPN recommends using a password manager and checking sender addresses before clicking links. These steps take minutes but save thousands.

The survey shows most Americans know the risks but don’t act. Only 32% use two-factor authentication on important accounts. Even fewer (24%) verify unexpected calls or messages by calling the real company. Scammers count on people’s haste and trust.

What’s next: More regulation or more scams?

The government is pushing for stricter rules. The FTC proposed new limits on how companies can use AI in customer service calls. Carriers like AT&T and Verizon now block some scam calls by default. But scammers adapt fast, using new tools and tactics.

For now, the best defense is awareness. People need to question unexpected messages, verify identities, and slow down before acting. The survey proves money talks louder than fear—scams cost too much to ignore.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: CNET
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 19:16 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #cnet · #tech · #reviews · #security · #cybersecurity · #nord

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O brasileiro pode não achar graça, mas os Estados Unidos estão perdendo bilhões para o golpe do “seu cartão foi clonado”, enquanto os holofotes da mídia só brilham para os hackers mirabolantes que invadem servidores de Hollywood. Um estudo recente da NordVPN revelou que, apesar de 46% dos americanos temerem mais os ciberataques com roubo de dados, os golpes por chamadas e e-mails fraudulentos já faturaram dez vezes mais em prejuízos anuais — um buraco de cerca de US$ 40 bilhões só em 2023, segundo a Comissão Federal de Comércio dos EUA.

Aqui no Brasil, onde o Pix revolucionou as transferências mas também abriu alas para o “golpe do falso funcionário” e os links suspeitos no WhatsApp, a discussão sobre segurança digital ganha contornos ainda mais urgentes. Especialistas já alertam que, enquanto a população corre atrás de antivírus e firewalls, os criminosos preferem explorar a confiança do brasileiro médio, que, segundo a Febraban, caiu em 35% dos casos de fraudes em 2023 justamente por confiar em mensagens que parecem vir de bancos ou órgãos públicos. A pesquisa da NordVPN, que ouviu mais de 1.000 americanos, serve de espelho: o maior perigo pode não ser a tecnologia avançada, mas a vulnerabilidade humana que ela expõe.

O próximo passo, tanto lá quanto cá, é a educação digital — e rápido, antes que o prejuízo vire uma conta de R$ 100 milhões por dia.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Un estudio reciente de NordVPN revela una preocupante desconexión entre las percepciones y la realidad en el cibercrimen, donde los estadounidenses priorizan erróneamente los ataques de hackers sobre otras amenazas más devastadoras. Según la encuesta, mientras que solo el 14% de los ciudadanos teme a los fraudes telefónicos y por correo electrónico, estos últimos generan pérdidas hasta diez veces mayores que los hackeos.

El informe, que analiza hábitos y temores en materia de seguridad digital, destaca que los fraudes a través de llamadas o mensajes fraudulentos —como el phishing— son responsables de un gasto anual de miles de millones en perjuicios económicos, muy por encima de los daños causados por brechas de datos o intrusiones en sistemas. Para los hispanohablantes, este dato cobra especial relevancia en un contexto donde el uso de dispositivos móviles y el comercio online sigue en crecimiento, pero la conciencia sobre estas modalidades de ciberdelincuencia sigue siendo baja. Expertos recomiendan reforzar la educación en seguridad digital para evitar caer en estas trampas, que no solo afectan a individuos, sino que también ponen en riesgo la privacidad y la economía de familias y pequeñas empresas.