AI-driven messaging scams erode consumer trust in Greece
Cybercriminals in Greece reportedly use advanced AI tools to create convincing brand-impersonation messages on SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. Research indicates that 19.60% of defrauded consumers fell victim multiple times, and 99% lost trust in business notifications as a result.
What happened
Cybercriminals in Greece are using advanced artificial intelligence tools to create convincing messages that impersonate known brands and businesses, according to research by Kaspersky published in September 2026.
Brand impersonation accounts for approximately 36% of messaging app fraud cases in Greece. The primary attack vectors are SMS and iMessage (38.80%), followed by WhatsApp (32%) and Facebook (30%).
Reported impact
Nearly one in five Greeks (19.60%) who fell victim to scams reported being defrauded three or more times. Almost two-thirds of scams (63%) spread across multiple platforms before victims realized they had been deceived.
99% of defrauded consumers reported losing trust in any incoming notifications from businesses via messaging services. Immediately after incidents, victims reported anger (44.80%), anxiety (38%), and disappointment (33.60%); six months later, 46.80% still felt angry and 25.20% reported fear.
Index analysis
37.60% of victims believe the messages they received were written with AI assistance, while 69.20% estimate that artificial voices or deepfake images were used in the attacks.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.