Cybercriminals exploit data leaks for sophisticated phishing scams

Cybercriminals are increasingly utilizing data leaks to conduct sophisticated phishing attacks. In Togo, a fraudulent campaign is targeting Mixx mobile payment users by promising a fake 20,000 FCFA bonus to celebrate the service’s second anniversary. These scams direct users to external links designed to steal personal information and financial account access.

On a broader scale, manipulation-based fraud has seen a significant rise. According to the Observatoire de la sécurité des moyens de paiement, such fraud accounted for 516 million euros in losses in 2025, representing 41.6% of total payment method losses. This 34% increase in manipulation scams is driven by the use of stolen identity data, which allows fraudsters to create highly personalized and credible phishing messages.