Scamouflage - how fraudsters change their stripes

Through supporting individuals confronting identity and cyber security concerns, IDCARE has identified that over the last 5 years, there have been distinct changes in methodology, preferred platforms of operation, and a shift in the types of identity credentials sought after by criminals.

By comparing scams between 2020 and 2025, we see that we are confronting a faster-moving, better camouflaged scam ecosystem that adapts as quickly as the systems that have been designed to stop them. It also shows how certain scams have evolved beyond their initial methodologies to take advantage of real-world changes.

Phishing remains a major driver of harm, but its profile has changed. Misuse rates increased and losses more than doubled, indicating phishing is less frequent but more damaging when successful. Overall detection improved, but this improvement comes with a caveat: for specific demographics reporting certain scam types, time to detect has increased.

The data shows a scam ecosystem that has changed its stripes. Preferred channels and tactics have shifted to maintain effectiveness, and while detection may have improved, harm has not declined, reflecting a move toward more deliberate, data-enabled scams that take advantage of real-world pressures and digital trust.