9 in 10 Americans Have Encountered a Cyber Scam as AI Fuels Fraud, Consumer Reports Finds
Updated on: October 1, 2026 / 3:50 PM EDT / MoneyWatch
TL;DR
- AI is accelerating digital fraud by making scams cheaper, faster, and more personalized.
- Ninety percent of Americans have encountered a digital scam or cyberattack.
- Seventeen percent of consumers have lost money due to a digital security breach.
- AI enables scammers to synthesize data quickly and create customized traps.
- The personalization of scams makes them more effective, a trend that is expected to grow.
- Security measures like two-factor authentication are now essential.
- A low-tech strategy, the '9-second rule,' encourages pausing before responding to suspicious messages.