22 January 2026
The increasing adoption of generative AI tools is significantly enhancing the capabilities of cybercriminals, enabling them to accelerate their malicious activities against both businesses and individuals. 
A recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights the growing risks associated with AI-driven cyber threats, with experts warning that scams and impersonation attacks are poised to rise sharply this year. They urge users to stay vigilant amid this evolving digital danger landscape.
The WEF survey reveals that in 2025, 73% of CEOs reported that someone within their professional or personal networks had fallen victim to cyber-enabled fraud. The report also notes that 62% of respondents witnessed phishing, vishing (voice phishing), or smishing (SMS phishing) attacks, while 37% encountered invoice or payment fraud, and 32% experienced identity theft. Notably, concerns over AI vulnerabilities and cyber-enabled fraud have surpassed ransomware as the primary worry for CEOs, marking a shift in cybersecurity priorities.
Konstantin Levinzon, co-founder of the free VPN provider Planet VPN, emphasizes that these AI-related risks extend beyond corporations to individual consumers. Data from the US Federal Trade Commission shows that in 2024, consumers reported losses of $12.5 billion due to fraud, a 25% increase from the previous year. Levinzon warns that this figure could soar further in 2026, driven by the expanding use of AI in cyberattacks. “Recent developments in generative AI are lowering the barriers to executing all kinds of attacks, while simultaneously increasing their sophistication and credibility,” he states.
Consumers are increasingly worried about identity theft, with 68% citing it as their top concern, followed by 61% worried about stolen credit card data, according to a recent Experian report. This rising anxiety reflects the growing vulnerability felt by many as AI-driven cyber threats grow more complex and widespread. The WEF also highlights that certain groups, particularly children and women, are more vulnerable to impersonation and synthetic image abuse, with AI amplifying these risks.
Levinzon explains that AI enables scammers to translate and localize social engineering scams, making impersonations more authentic and convincing, and even launching hyper-realistic deepfake attacks. Criminal networks, once limited by language barriers, can now target populations worldwide in multiple languages, accelerating the spread of AI-driven disinformation and complicating efforts by platforms and regulators to protect users from coordinated manipulation.
Cybersecurity skill shortages remain a significant challenge globally. The WEF reports that 33% of companies in Europe and Central Asia, 35% in North America, and up to 70% in Latin America and Africa face difficulties recruiting qualified cybersecurity professionals. While AI tools can help mitigate these shortages by automating some tasks, Levinzon warns that poor implementation can introduce new risks, such as misconfigurations, biased decisions, over-reliance on automation, and vulnerabilities to adversarial attacks.
He emphasizes that education is the most effective defense, advising that well-informed employees and users are less likely to fall for scams. He recommends practices such as using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and incorporating VPN use into daily online routines to enhance cybersecurity hygiene.
