World Statistics Day: When Stats Meet Cybersecurity Reality

October 20 is World Statistics Day an event celebrated every five years  that highlights how data shapes decisions, fosters transparency, and drives progress across societies.

Numbers sometimes speak louder than words. They don’t just show growth or innovation. When looking at them from a cybersecurity perspective statistics mirror the reality of our digital lives.

Did You Know?

• Over 57 % of adults worldwide have encountered a scam in the past year, and nearly one in four lost money.
• Global scam losses now exceed  $1 trillion annually.
• The U.S. alone accounts for about 37 % of all global spam, with nearly half of it being fraudulent or malicious.
• Around 37 % of people still write down their passwords, and 19 % reuse them across multiple accounts.

When Numbers Reflect Human Behavior

Behind every percentage is a decision — to click, to trust, to reuse a password “just this once.” Statistics show that even as scams evolve, our habits often stay the same. Writing passwords on sticky notes or using the same one for multiple logins may seem harmless, but it quietly increases the odds of becoming the next victim.

Cybercriminals rely on predictability. They know that a certain percentage of people will fall for phishing emails, or that millions of users still recycle passwords across banking, shopping, and streaming services. Statistics turn into opportunities for scammers.

A Global Warning Sign

The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), where Bitdefender serves as a founding and advisory board member, recently revealed that scams have reached epidemic proportions. More than half of adults worldwide (57%) now report encountering a scam in the past year, and 13% encountering a scam at least once a day. Shopping scams topped the list affecting 54% percent of victims, while investment scams  impacted 48%, charity scams 40%, and employment scams 39%.

 And while online fraud once relied on crude fake emails, today’s scams often use AI-generated voices and deepfake videos to mimic loved ones or trusted brands.

In the United States impersonation scams dominate. Criminals pose as companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, or American Express, and nearly 45 % of all spam messages have been found to contain fraudulent or malicious content, according to our latest report. Some even go a step further, sending fake texts that look like delivery notifications or government updates designed to make you click before you think.

The numbers might seem abstract until you imagine them in human terms: parents transferring their savings after a fake “child in trouble” call, or small businesses locked out of accounts after a well-crafted phishing email.

You can read more in the article dedicated to our “They Wear Our Faces” campaign.

How We Can Flip the Script

World Statistics Day isn’t just about numbers; it’s about using data to make things better. These findings tell us that technology alone won’t protect us unless our habits catch up. Simple actions — creating strong passwords, turning on multi-factor authentication, verifying links before clicking — can drastically change your personal odds.

And while scammers use AI to deceive, consumers can now use AI-powered protection to fight back. Bitdefender’s FREE tools make that possible for anyone, no matter their tech level:

• Bitdefender Scamio, our AI-powered scam detector, helps you instantly check if a message, link or QR code you encounter might lead to a scam. Plus you don’t need to download or install anything, Have a chat with Scamio via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Discord or via your browser.
• Bitdefender Link Checker scans URLs before you click, revealing hidden dangers. No installation needed. Bookmark Link Checker for daily website veritications.
•  Password Generator helps you create strong, unique passwords in seconds, directly from your browser. No installation required.
• Bitdefender Free Antivirus provides real-time malware protection to keep your devices clean.

This October 20, take a moment to look beyond the numbers. Update a password. Enable MFA. Ask a loved one if they know how to spot a scam. Every step helps reduce the odds — and every person who acts makes the global statistics just a little bit better.