Digital fraud in Peru: 74% suffered scam attempts and 92% fear AI deception
An Experian study reveals that 74% of Peruvians surveyed received at least one fraud attempt in the last year. 92% fear the use of AI to commit scams.
Three in four Peruvians received scam attempts in the last year, according to Experian
74% of Peruvian consumers surveyed received at least one fraud attempt during the last twelve months, and 92% expressed concern about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to commit digital scams, according to a regional study published by Experian. This is reported by diariocorreo.pe.
The research, titled "From digital fraud to digital trust: fraud, identity and artificial intelligence", gathers perceptions from consumers in Peru, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Panama on security in digital services.
Peru exceeds regional average in perception of fraud
The percentage of Peruvians who reported scam attempts stands three percentage points above the average of the five countries evaluated, which reaches 71%.
88% of respondents in Peru believe that fraud attempts increased compared to the previous year, compared to 82% recorded as the regional average. Additionally, 71% stated they knew someone who was a victim of fraud in the last twelve months, and 95% believed these crimes occur frequently in the country.
Experian cautions that these figures correspond to experiences and perceptions reported by participants, and do not equate to official statistics on complaints.
AI concerns nine out of ten Peruvians surveyed
One of the main findings of the study is the concern generated by the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate deception. In Peru, 92% of participants expressed concern about this possibility, above the regional average of 88%.
Technology can intervene in different types of digital interactions, from automated messages to audiovisual content, which poses new challenges for verifying the authenticity of information received.
48% of Peruvian respondents feel little or no confidence in being able to identify whether a call, message, image or video was generated or altered using AI. Despite this, 88% expressed interest in learning to detect fraud created with this technology.
Willingness to use AI as a protection tool
Although there is distrust towards the possible malicious uses of AI, consumers also show willingness to use it as a security mechanism. 57% of Peruvians surveyed would allow AI systems to analyse information to detect fraudulent activities, a proportion that exceeds the regional average of 52%.
The study notes, however, that it does not specify what types of information participants would be willing to share or under what privacy conditions.
Fraud with bots: 25% experienced it or knew it closely
Experian also examined consumer confidence in intelligent agents and bots used in digital interactions. In Peru, 25% of respondents stated they had experienced or knew of situations of fraud related to AI agents, compared to 20% recorded as the regional average.
The study clarifies that this indicator groups personal experiences and situations known to participants, so it does not equate to saying that one in four Peruvians has been a direct victim of a scam through bots.
On the other hand, only 2% of respondents said they would trust an AI agent or bot more to carry out a financial transaction, reflecting persistent reservations about the automation of interactions linked to money and identity.
Digital security and trust, the new challenges for companies
Víctor Nieto, head of Product Management DA at Experian SpanishLatam, explained that the discussion on digital security is expanding towards trust in interactions. "Today, in addition to protecting against possible deception, consumers seek to be certain about who is behind a digital interaction and whether the information they receive is authentic," he said.
Nieto added that innovation, security and education will be important elements to strengthen the relationship between users and digital services.
The growth of automated services poses new demands on organisations: in addition to preventing fraudulent operations, they must offer mechanisms that allow verification of the identity of participants in a transaction and the authenticity of their communications.
Recommendations regarding suspicious messages and calls
The study underscores the importance of verifying the source of digital communications, especially when they request personal data, passwords or financial information.
When faced with an unexpected message or call, a preventative measure is to verify its authenticity through the official channels of the corresponding company or entity. It is also advisable to avoid sharing verification codes and to carefully review requests for transfers or changes to bank details, even when they appear to come from known contacts.
Experian's results show that, alongside advances in new technologies, there is a growing demand for information and tools that allow consumers to recognise and avoid possible digital deception.
Source: Google News PE — Crime