The research
To gather insights into online scams, researchers at NordVPN surveyed a group of active customers. Participants were selected randomly from our customer base, with a total of 1,069 respondents taking part in the survey on February 4–10, 2025.
The main goals of this research were to understand what types of scams people have experienced, which ones they’re mostly worried about, what they do to avoid the scams, and gather insights for improving NordVPN’s products and strategies. By learning from our users’ experiences, we can better focus on the threats they deal with most and create tools that truly help.
Research results: Most frequent scams
When asked about scams they’ve been targeted with, users reported these as the most common:
- 1.Links to fake login pages (phishing).
- 2.Calls or messages from scammers (fake customer/IT support agents or fake bank employees).
- 3.Delivery scams.
These scams are dangerous due to the serious financial and emotional harm they can cause. It’s no surprise that people are particularly worried about identity theft, the theft and misuse of personal information, or having their credit card cloned and used for fraud. Such cybercrime can both cause serious financial loss and damage a person’s reputation.
These well-founded fears show just how personal the stakes are when it comes to online security.
Scam incident frequency
Our research uncovered a striking statistic — 33% of respondents admitted to having suffered online scams. Among them, 22% encountered a scam at least once, 10% said they fell victim to scams two or three times, and 1% reported being scammed four or more times. These results show just how common these threats are.
The data also revealed that scams don’t discriminate — they can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, location, or employment status. Nearly half (49%) of those who were scammed said they lost money, and for 20% of them, the losses were greater than $100.
Most scams happen when people are online during their personal time rather than at work. Yet fewer than half of the victims (46%) reported the incident to authorities.
The risk of being scammed again
NordVPN research highlights that users who have already been scammed are more likely to encounter scams again. In particular, those who were previously scammed come across fraudulent shopping websites more often (32%) compared to all respondents (19%).
The use of security tools
No one wants their private emails read or their credit card used by a stranger. That’s why respondents emphasized the importance of tools that provide real-time alerts and warnings about potential scams.
While real-time notifications top the list of desired features, users also mentioned wanting tools that help with financial recovery, email and social media integration, and advanced AI-driven protection.
Most popular tools
When it comes to scam prevention, VPNs and antivirus software were among the security tools users mentioned the most. VPNs help users protect their online traffic, while special security features, such as NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™, block threats before they become an issue.
However, not all protection comes from technology — 12% of participants said they rely on personal habits like taking precautions, staying skeptical, and double-checking information before acting. Good online practices remain an important part of staying safe.
How users choose security tools
The top factors that influence users when picking security tools are:
- 1.Recommendations from trusted sources and cybersecurity experts.
- 2.Ease of use — tools need to be straightforward.
- 3.Brand reliability — users value a name they can trust.
At NordVPN, we understand the importance of trust and simplicity, which is why we strive to make our security tools both user-friendly and effective.
Knowledge improves security
Finally, we asked our users what information they would look for if they wanted to protect themselves from scams. Most said they’d search for tips on how to avoid scams and for details about the threats themselves, such as what is mentioned in the scam attempt.
They’re absolutely right to do so because staying informed is one of the best ways to stay safe. A little knowledge goes a long way, especially when paired with reliable tools like NordVPN and Threat Protection Pro™, which has your virtual back 24/7 — it warns you if you’re about to access a phishing site or a fake eshop or download a malicious file.
Online security starts with a click.
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