Scammers use new phone tactics as text scams cause $470M losses in 2024

Malwarebytes reports that scammers are increasingly targeting mobile phone users with sophisticated scams, exploiting the high engagement people have with text messages. According to a 2022 Federal Communications Commission report, texting is more commonly used than voice or email, which scammers are leveraging to reach victims.

Consumers lost $470 million to text scams in 2024, a 26% increase from $373 million the previous year and five times the amount reported in 2020, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC notes that text message open rates can be as high as 98%, compared to just 20% for emails, making texts a more effective vector for scams.

Artificial intelligence is also contributing to the rise in scams by making fraudulent activities harder to detect and more convincing. AI-synthesized audio fraud doubled in the first half of 2026, according to CrowdStrike’s 2026 Threat Hunting Report. Additionally, 16% of adults surveyed by Malwarebytes said they received voice-cloned calls impersonating someone they knew in the past year.

The Malwarebytes survey highlights the growing difficulty in distinguishing scams from legitimate communications, with 85% of respondents saying it is hard to tell the difference, up from 66% a year ago. This increase in scam sophistication underscores the need for vigilance among mobile users.

Experts warn that despite frequent cautionary messages, about one in three people have started ignoring warnings about scams, which could increase their vulnerability to these evolving threats.

What to watch: As scammers continue to refine their techniques using AI and mobile platforms, users and authorities will need to adapt strategies to protect against increasingly convincing fraud attempts.