Italy telephony fraud victims reach 3.2 million

An investigation by mUp Research for Facile.it reveals that over 3.2 million people in Italy were victims of, or attempted victims of, telephone fraud involving landlines or mobile phones over the past year. The total estimated economic damage is 731 million euros.

Fraudsters primarily utilize fake call centers, false emails, and SMS messages. For mobile telephony, nearly one in four scams occurred through instant messaging apps. The average loss per victim was 209 euros for landline fraud and 176 euros for mobile fraud.

Data shows a significant reporting gap, with 59.4% of victims failing to report the incidents. Common reasons for not reporting include the perceived low economic impact, feelings of naivety, or a desire to avoid informing friends and family.

Contrary to common assumptions, younger demographics are more frequently targeted by mobile scams, with rates reaching 10.7% among 18-24 year olds. Additionally, individuals with university degrees were found to be more than twice as likely to be victims compared to the national average.