Evolution of digital and psychological scams

Digital scams are evolving through sophisticated multi-stage processes and the exploitation of human psychology. Early reports highlight ‘phantom hacker scams’ that use artificial intelligence, social media, and spoofed bank alerts to trick victims. These schemes often begin with fake tech support notifications and progress to requests for remote device access or impersonation of law enforcement to pressure victims into moving funds into ‘safe’ accounts, cryptocurrency, or gold.

Recent analysis indicates that fraudsters are increasingly targeting psychological vulnerabilities such as ‘trust,’ ‘fear,’ and ‘agency’ rather than relying solely on technological exploits. Research from Malaysia’s Journal of Computing Research and Innovation suggests that younger individuals and those with limited technological literacy are most susceptible, though income levels and general trust in others do not significantly impact vulnerability. In Ghana, experts warn that as economies digitize, the misuse of PINs and One-Time Passwords (OTPs) has become a critical risk, advising consumers to ‘Stop, Think, and Verify’ to prevent financial loss.

Furthermore, cybercriminals are increasingly utilizing data leaks to fuel sophisticated phishing attacks. In Togo, fraudulent campaigns have targeted mobile payment users with fake bonuses to steal personal and financial information. On a broader scale, manipulation-based fraud is rising significantly; in France, such fraud accounted for 516 million euros in losses in 2025, representing 41.6% of total payment method losses. This increase is driven by the use of stolen identity data, which allows fraudsters to create highly personalized and credible phishing messages.