Messaging Scams Cost Serbian Citizens 425 Euros Each, Global Study Finds

Messaging scams are evolving into a significant macroeconomic threat, with citizens in Serbia losing an average of 425 euros per incident, a new study by Kaspersky reveals. Globally, the value of these scams surpasses 173 billion euros, impacting households worldwide.

The research highlights that these scams are no longer confined to the fringes of the internet. Instead, they are actively occurring within widely used and trusted messaging platforms. Contrary to common assumptions, the study indicates that these fraudulent activities are not limited to older generations, showing nearly equal prevalence among Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X.

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For the first time, we have a global picture of how widespread message-based scams have become and how much economic damage they cause – a phenomenon that no government or regulator has yet quantified.

Kaspersky researchers found that organized scam networks are exploiting the current period of geopolitical tension, rising inflation, and economic uncertainty. As living costs increase, individuals become more vulnerable, and scammers skillfully capitalize on this financial strain. While the average loss in Serbia is lower than the global average of 638 euros per victim, it remains a substantial amount that could otherwise cover essential needs like food and energy bills.

The study further reveals that for over 13% of victims in Serbia, losses exceed 1,175 euros, exacerbating financial insecurity. Although individual losses might seem relatively small, their cumulative effect on a global scale is catastrophic. Kaspersky estimates that if even 10% of the world's three billion messaging app users are affected, a conservative estimate given the cross-platform nature of these scams, global losses could exceed 173 billion euros, a figure equivalent to the economic collapse of a medium-sized country.

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The data reveals a harsh reality: what appears to be an everyday scam at first glance is rapidly becoming a serious economic problem that can disproportionately affect households already under financial pressure due to the global cost-of-living crisis.