A new study by cybersecurity company Kaspersky has found that scams conducted through messaging applications are rapidly expanding, affecting households and businesses alike, with global losses potentially exceeding $200 billion.
According to the research, Greece is among the countries impacted by the growing threat. Fraudsters are increasingly exploiting economic uncertainty, inflation, and job insecurity to deceive unsuspecting users into handing over money or sensitive information.
Kaspersky’s findings show that victims in Greece lose an average of $609 per incident, while 23% of those affected report losses exceeding $1,350. The company notes that the true scale of the problem is likely much larger, as only 24% of victims report incidents to the police and just 25% notify their bank.
The study also suggests that messaging-app scams have become both widespread and recurring. More than half (52%) of reported incidents occurred within the last five months, while 28% of respondents said they had been targeted three or more times. Kaspersky argues that the phenomenon has evolved beyond opportunistic fraud into a form of organized, large-scale criminal activity.
A key concern highlighted in the report is that these attacks take place within the very platforms people use every day, making them more difficult to detect. In Greece, the most common scam types include impersonation of well-known brands (36%), investment scams (34%), and fake parcel delivery notifications (30%).
According to Kaspersky, scammers rely on urgency, trust, and users’ familiarity with messaging platforms to prompt hasty decisions before victims have time to question the authenticity of the content. The report also challenges the perception that older adults are the primary targets, noting that victims are distributed relatively evenly across Generation Z, Millennials, and Generation X.
The research further underscores the broader economic implications of the trend. Based on Kaspersky’s estimates, if just 10% of the world’s 3 billion messaging-app users were affected, total losses could reach approximately $219.9 billion. The company argues that the issue should be viewed not only as a cybersecurity challenge but also as a matter of economic security.
To reduce risks, Kaspersky advises users to verify any unexpected message through official channels, keep security software up to date, and strengthen the protection of devices and passwords. For businesses, the company recommends brand-monitoring and impersonation-detection tools to help combat fraudulent use of corporate identities.
Source: OT
