In 2023, the average financial loss from hacking attempts was more than double that of the previous year. This is according to figures from the Fraude Helpdesk requested by EenVandaag.
The average amount that cybercriminals captured per victim was nearly 4,000 euros in 2022. In 2023, this amount rose to over 9,000 euros. Cybercriminals were particularly active in social media accounts and crypto wallets.
Especially when crypto wallets are hacked, the damage is often extensive. Once hacked, cybercriminals can loot them almost instantly. Scams via WhatsApp also remain lucrative for malicious parties. "It starts, for example, with a hacked account of an acquaintance," said Tanya Wijngaarde of the Fraud Helpdesk. "The scammer then approaches family or friends with a believable story and a payment request. This type of fraud also proves difficult for many people to recognize."
The Fraud Help Desk receives about 800 reports of hacked accounts per year. These figures are most likely only a small fraction of the actual number of cases, because many victims do not report being scammed.
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