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Trend Micro Takes Action Against Scams

On February 11, 2025, Trend Micro Incorporated, a prominent name in cybersecurity, released new research that delves into consumer perceptions and behaviors regarding various online scams. The findings underscore significant misconceptions among consumers that increase their vulnerability to such threats, a situation Trend Micro aims to address head-on.

One of the most alarming insights from the research is that over one-third of respondents believe they can become victims of online scams solely due to oversharing personal information. In today’s digital age, however, this perspective is dangerously limiting. With data breaches becoming more common, cybercriminals can acquire private information through secure channels, allowing them to execute various forms of scams, fraud, or identity theft without any apparent prior warning.

Furthermore, the study revealed that 45% of participants believe that identifying scams is as straightforward as spotting grammatical or spelling errors in phishing messages. This assumption is outdated; cybercriminals increasingly utilize advanced generative AI tools to craft highly convincing messages that are free of these traditional indicators of deception.

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), consumers globally lost over $1 trillion to scams in the previous year. Despite this staggering statistic, the research indicated that only 15% of those surveyed had discussed preventative strategies with their families or friends in the event of being targeted by romance or investment scams. This lack of discussion highlights a critical gap in awareness and prevention strategies.

Russell Slater, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the National Council on Aging, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Scams are one of the most dangerous online challenges today, not only for older adults but for individuals across all demographics. It’s essential we prioritize this issue nationally and collaborate with organizations like Trend Micro to enhance public safety through educational initiatives.”

In response to these growing threats, Trend Micro has committed significant resources towards combating scams through various means:

• - Innovation: The launch of the latest version of Trend Micro ScamCheck, designed to help users identify potential scams as well as emerging AI threats, including deepfakes.
• - Education: Since 2008, Trend Micro has reached over 5 million individuals through educational programs and events. To further this mission, they will initiate a new webinar series in early March 2025, focusing on scam prevention techniques and resources.
• - Collaboration: As a foundational partner of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Trend Micro will actively participate in GASA summits worldwide throughout 2025, including an upcoming event in London on March 26-27, where they will lead discussions on scam prevention tactics.

For more information on the summit or to register, attendees can visit GASA Events.

The research conducted by Trend Micro spanned January 27 to February 5 and included more than 6,000 participants from Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About Trend Micro: Trend Micro is renowned for its global cybersecurity solutions that aim to ensure safe digital communication. With a history steeped in expertise and ongoing innovation, Trend Micro protects countless organizations and individuals worldwide. They focus on delivering robust advanced threat defenses optimized for popular cloud environments, ensuring a secure and simplified connected world. With a workforce of 7,000 employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro continues to lead the charge in global cybersecurity efforts. Learn more at Trend Micro.