The data shows that for unknown calls, or calls from numbers that are not in someone’s contact book, 25 out of the 42 countries had spam flag rates of more than 20%; in certain situations, these rates even went above 50%.
Hiya identified around 20 billion calls as potentially scams in the first half of 2024—that is, over 107 million spam calls every day. According to the data, 25 out of the 42 countries had spam flag rates of more than 20% for unknown calls, or calls that originate from numbers that are not in someone’s address book; in certain cases, these rates even exceeded 50%.
AI deepfake scams, which mimic individuals and/or organizations using AI-generated voice cloning technology, have also increased in the first half of 2024. Voters in New Hampshire received robocalls posing as Joe Biden using an artificial intelligence-generated voice ahead of the primary election in January.
In 2024, researchers predict that voice-cloning impersonation scam tactics will continue to rise as AI capabilities become more potent and accessible.
In the first half of 2024, Americans received an average of 14 spam calls per month. States differ in their spam flag rates; in H1, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Ohio had the greatest rates of spam, while North Dakota, Alaska, and New York had the lowest.
Between January and June in the US, health insurance and Medicare scams were the most common, followed by scams involving other insurances such as life, home, and auto. Prior to the April 15 deadline for submitting taxes, tax scams were also becoming more prevalent in the first place.
In France and Spain, almost half of all unknown calls were unwelcome, with 53% and 51% of calls flagged as spam, respectively. Residents who speak French or Spanish typically receive over 12 calls a month regarding fraud or other nuisances. Spain has a worse fraud problem than France, with 12% of unknown calls being fraudulent, compared to 5% in France, despite equal spam flag rates.
In Spain, scams involving the sale of mobile phones and utilities were the most often reported fraud calls. Users reported receiving robocalls offering 800 euros a day to view and like videos on TikTok, which led to the emergence of a new scam in February. In the first half of 2024, utility-related scams, such as those involving solar energy and electricity suppliers, were the most common in France. Scam calls pertaining to banks, telemarketing calls, and package scams.
In the UK, 28% of all unknown calls raised a spam signal, and 3% of those calls involved H1 fraud. In the first half of the year, credit card, Amazon, and tax frauds—specifically, posing as Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs—were among the most common phone scammers in the UK. Scams involving cryptocurrency, electricity, and immigration were also increasing. In the first half of 2024, Brazilians received an average of 26 spam calls every month. Thirteen percent of the unknown calls in the nation were fraudulent, and more than half (51%) were spam. In Brazil, banking scams are the most common phone fraud, according to Hiya users who have reported scammers posing as banks and phoning to verify passwords and personal information.
Even though each Canadian only received four spam calls on average per month, 7% of those calls were fraudulent. The most common scams targeting Canadians in 2023 and 2024 were those involving Amazon, which peaked in mid-April. The scams persisted through the first part of 2024. Credit card and cryptocurrency frauds were the most common in H1, followed by scammers posing as government authorities.
According to Kush Parikh, President of Hiya, “phone fraud, spam, and the emerging use of AI-driven deepfake voice scams are escalating threats to the voice channel, affecting every phone user across every major market.” “The voice channel should be treated with the same caution that businesses do with cybersecurity.” As a matter of fact, voice security needs to be quickly included in cybersecurity plans because it poses a serious risk to protecting enterprises.
Do Follow: CIO News LinkedIn Account | CIO News Facebook | CIO News Youtube | CIO News Twitter
About us:
CIO News is the premier platform dedicated to delivering the latest news, updates, and insights from the CIO industry. As a trusted source in the technology and IT sector, we provide a comprehensive resource for executives and professionals seeking to stay informed and ahead of the curve. With a focus on cutting-edge developments and trends, CIO News serves as your go-to destination for staying abreast of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and IT. Founded in June 2020, CIO News has rapidly evolved with ambitious growth plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, USA, and the UK.
CIO News is a proprietary of Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.
