A majority of U.S. adults say artificial intelligence–assisted scams now pose a greater threat than traditional computer viruses, according to a new survey by CNET Group, publisher of PCMag, Mashable and ZDNet. The online poll of 1,000 Americans found 62% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that “AI-powered scams are now more dangerous than traditional malware/viruses.”
What respondents reported
Survey results point to frequent exposure to scam attempts and a corresponding drop in consumer confidence. Key findings reported by CNET Group include:
- More than 80% of respondents said they receive scam calls or scam emails at least once a week.
- Over 76% reported receiving scam text messages on a weekly basis or more often.
- Respondents ranked scam-related risks among their top cybersecurity concerns; traditional malware ranked lower on their list.
Why AI matters to fraud
Security companies and industry observers told CNET Group that the rise of inexpensive, powerful AI tools is making scams harder to detect and more convincing. The story cites security firms including Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, McAfee and Norton as hearing increased worry from customers about scams rather than malware or ransomware.
CNET Group also illustrated the human cost of those scams with a reported case in which a 77-year-old retired nurse lost $400,000 after being targeted in an extended impersonation scheme that used deceptive techniques over weeks.
Confidence and the risk of smarter scams
The report said consumers’ confidence in spotting scams has fallen sharply. In a figure cited by CNET Group, people’s confidence in identifying scams is 33% lower than it was a year earlier. That decline, combined with increasing volume of scam contacts, helps explain why many respondents view AI-enabled fraud as their top digital risk.
| Measure | Survey result |
|---|---|
| Agree AI scams are more dangerous than viruses | 62% |
| Receive scam calls or emails at least weekly | >80% |
| Receive scam texts weekly or more | >76% |
| Drop in confidence spotting scams vs. one year ago | 33% lower |
The survey results reflect a shift in what consumers perceive as the greatest online danger. Where malware and viruses once topped concerns about digital threats, respondents placed a cluster of scam-related risks at the top of their list.
What the findings mean for consumers
The CNET Group piece frames the survey in practical terms: scammers are increasingly using persuasive, automated or semi-automated tools to imitate voices and written communications, scale targeted campaigns and harvest personal data. Security companies quoted by the report said that these trends make ordinary warning signs harder for average users to rely on.
While the survey gauges perceptions rather than measuring the total economic impact of AI-assisted fraud, the reported case of a large retirement loss underscores the severe financial consequences that can follow successful scams.
The CNET Group survey and reporting provide a snapshot of shifting consumer risk and sentiment: Americans report rising frequency of scam contacts, falling confidence in spotting fraud, and a majority view that AI has made scams more dangerous than classical computer viruses.
