Trend Micro reports surge in technical support and AI-driven fraud

Trend Micro has released its “Personal Security Threat Trends Report 2026 First Half,” highlighting a significant rise in technical support fraud, which has increased 2.5 times compared to the same period last year. The report notes that scammers are evolving their methods, moving from web advertisements to email-based lures.

A new development in “fake police scams” involves fraudulent websites that now include video call functions. This allows attackers to simulate “face-to-face interrogations” using deepfake technology to impersonate police officers or prosecutors without needing to redirect victims to apps like LINE. This method shortens the time required to manipulate victims.

Furthermore, the report warns of the growing role of AI in fraud. Attackers are using generative AI to build fraudulent sites, and in some cases, the AI tools users rely on may actually serve as the entry point for scams by providing links to fraudulent websites.

Scams are also becoming more organized, particularly in social media-based investment fraud, which utilizes a division of labor across multiple accounts to build trust before demanding cryptocurrency. The report suggests that these activities may involve international criminal organizations, as infrastructure used for fake sites impersonating the San Francisco Police and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been identified.