Spam text messages are a significant problem in the field of cybersecurity because they pose a real risk to people’s safety and privacy.
Disturbing statistics show that more than 3.5 billion people worldwide receive unsolicited text messages regularly.
That’s why educating people about the risks posed by spam texts is crucial and encouraging them to take precautions against receiving them.
In this article, we will examine spam text statistics and provide some insight into the scope of the spamming problem to help you get a feel for its magnitude.
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Key Statistics
- Over 1.6 billion spam texts were reportedly sent daily worldwide in 2022.
- Americans recieve an average of 41 spam texts a month.
- It is estimated that in 2023, spam will cost the global economy $50 billion.
- Smishing, short for “SMS phishing,” saw a 700% increase in 2021, as con artists increasingly turned to SMS to trick victims into divulging sensitive information or visiting malicious websites.
- According to a 2021 survey by Mobilesquared, 80% of consumers reported receiving at least one spam text message.
- More than half of all text messages sent in the United States are likely spam.
- Spam filtering and prevention measures are expected to cost the telecommunications industry $20 billion annually.
- 76% of American adults have been irritated or frustrated by unsolicited text messages.
- Over 400 million spam messages were sent daily via WhatsApp in 2022.
The Number of Spam Text Messages Keeps Rising
When your phone rings, you check it eagerly, only to discover a message from a mysterious number that claims it can help you get out of debt or give you a free vacation.
The problem is only getting worse.
Spam SMS increased by 58% between 2020 and 2021, according to recent data. It is not a slight increase either.
The average American received over 100% more hoax texts by April 2022 than the previous year.
These messages are incredibly numerous, but that isn’t the only thing that surprises people about them.
In August 2022, 10.89 billion spam texts were sent to American phones.
Let that number sink in in just one month. Nearly 11 billion scam messages were sent.
As these numbers show, con artists show no signs of slowing down.
They keep coming up with these ingenious new schemes to exploit us.
Criminal Spam Emails
Scam texts in 2021 were most commonly about deliveries, COVID-19 information, banking alerts, Apple product offers, and medical information.
Due to the pandemic, more people than ever before have turned to the internet for everything from shopping to getting news updates.
Hackers can trick their victims into disclosing personal information by using spoof numbers or local area codes, thanks to advancements in hacking techniques.
Due to the increased difficulty in identifying fake messages, many people are left vulnerable to attack.
The terrifying aspect is that these scams now affect people of all ages and backgrounds.
No matter their age or socioeconomic status, anyone can be a victim of these text message hoaxes whether you’re young or old, tech-savvy or not, it’s critical to be on the lookout for these scams.
In the future, staying informed about the newest text scams and taking precautions to protect oneself and one’s loved ones from falling victim to these dishonest tactics will be crucial.
In 2021, 59.4% of spam recipients were male, while 38.3% were female. The most targeted age range for phone spam was 35-44 for men and 18-34 for women.
Surprisingly, the least targeted age range for both genders was 65 and up.
SMS Phishing is spamming that uses phony two-factor authentication messages to steal user credentials.
It had recently grown in popularity, especially after the pandemic when people turned to the internet for assistance.
Financial Loss of Smishing
In 2023, spam text statistics show that the price tag for unwanted text messages was higher than ever.
Spammers and con artists still find ways to compromise mobile networks and steal users’ personal information and phones despite efforts to stop them.
Spam text messages are inconvenient and can result in the loss of privacy and the expenditure of time and money.
Younger generations appear to be especially susceptible to this con.
In 2021, those aged 20 to 29 were 41% more likely to suffer financial loss due to fraudulent activities than those aged 80 and up.
Surprisingly, the Elderly were losing three times as much money to these scams as the younger generation, demonstrating that fraudsters are explicitly targeting and preying on those most vulnerable.
Given that the average loss per victim in 2021 was $502, a significant increase from the average loss in 2020 of $351, there is an urgent need to educate the public on how to recognize and avoid becoming a victim of fraud to protect themselves and their loved ones.
It is a cause for alarm, mainly because reports of spam text attacks also rose sharply that year (2021).
It is estimated that in 2021 alone, spam texts cost the economy $10,066,331,169.
This mind-boggling number should be a wake-up call to everyone, from individuals to mobile network providers.
It was evident that spam texts posed an annoyance and a severe financial risk to their targets.
As communication tools improved, stopping spam texts became more critical than ever.
Mobile network operators spend much time and effort creating new security measures and protocols to protect their users’ private data.
Personal vigilance and caution in potentially malicious communications were also required.
Conclusion
Researching the spam text statistics for 2024 reveals an alarming trend: smishing attacks are rising in today’s technological landscape.
While antivirus software is helpful, it is no match for a sharp mind.
As mobile users, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones by learning more about the tactics con artists’ tactics.
Smishing is a growing form of text message fraud, so educating people about it and encouraging them to be wary of messages that sound too good to be true is essential.
The most important lesson from these statistics is always to trust your instincts and check the legitimacy of a text message’s sender.
1 thought on “Spam Text Statistics 2024: Alarming Increase in Spam Texts”
I am 77 years old female and every day I receive many SPAM messages. Most are pathetically obvious with bad spelling or telling you your Internet Security ( usually naming the WRONG provider) will be terminated or is “expiired”! Of course I automatically list all the emails with double vowels as an obvious spam, as well as medical advice, or emails from people with unknown name promoting products, bank’s warnings etc. Despite reporting these emails daily, I am bombarded with the same daily. It is time consuming and infuriating and often I wish that the brilliant minds that developed computers and all IT, have used their minds to develop cures for diseases that kill millions and millions of people around the world every year!