Online scams disproportionately affect over half of city-dwelling Romanians, according to recent research.
Unmasking the Tangled Web of Online Scams in Romania
In the digital jungle of Romania, a chilling 61% of the population confesses to being ensnared in online fraud attempts. The most dreaded outcomes? device infection by malware and viruses (42%) and empty wallets (30%). This grim picture is painted by Reveal Marketing Research in their latest, revealing study.
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Curiously, 39% of victims have been targeted more than once, with folks aged 35-44 bearing the brunt of repeat attacks, a staggering 49% of them reporting multiple incidents.
But fear not, most Romans have their eyes wide open. A whopping 68% claim they are well-acquainted with the perils lurking in the online world. The most recognizable scams? Deceitful bank emails (73%) and wily social media accounts (72%) pandering for money or sensitive data.
Judging by the numbers, 69% of Romanians could spot a fraudulent call, with 53% spotting fake websites that camouflage as trusted brands or host manipulative promotions and contests.
The ill effects of online fraud have been staggering. Infected devices top the list (42%), followed closely by the dreaded money loss (30%) and theft of precious data (personal banking info, passwords, and documents, 22%). Intriguingly, the youngest cohort, aged 18-24, seem to lose their money more often, versus their elder counterparts, who deal more frequently with device infections.
Men are more prone (27%) to data theft than women (17%). This could be attributed to men taking more risks online, be it through a broader range of platforms or heightened exposure to trading sites.
To safeguard themselves, Romans have developed a series of precautionary measures. Balking at unsolicited requests for personal data (67%), shying away from dubious links (63%), and verifying message sources (60%) are their top choices. Moreover, 42% use two-factor authentication, and 41% rely on antivirus software. It's the seniors, 55+, who show the most caution in online interactions.
"Online scams pose a mounting threat, and companies must grasp user needs, behaviors, and security trends to offer protective support," declared Marius Luican, General Manager of Reveal Marketing Research.
Scared Romans look to brands and companies for help. Their desired solutions? Implementing digital signature systems for emails (45%), launching online fraud awareness campaigns (25%), and displaying more warnings on websites and apps (17%).
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[1] Eurojust Collaboration:Recently, Romanian authorities joined forces with Eurojust, France, and the UK to demolish a syndicate laundering the gains from email fraud schemes. The operation revolved around fraudulent emails mimicking legitimate businesses.
[2] Industry-Wide Threat:A 2025 Tietoevry Banking report indicates a 43% surge in digital payment fraud across Europe, driven by AI-powered phishing emails and social engineering tricks. Though not Romania-specific, these trends likely impact Romanian businesses.
[3] Global Protective Measures:- AI-Powered Discovery: Global AI tools like Red Points’ brand protection software scan for impersonation scams and counterfeit websites.- Regulatory Shifts: New banking protections in jurisdictions like New Zealand hint at potential future frameworks for Romanian institutions.
Though Reveal Marketing Research-focused actions are scant in the searched data, the Eurojust collaboration [1] underscores the necessity for Romanian entities to step up their fraud detection and cross-border collaboration.
- The study by Reveal Marketing Research revealed that a significant number of Romanians have been victims of phishing scams, with 42% experiencing device infection by malware and viruses and 30% losing their money.
- Romania Insider members can unlock the secrets of this report by signing up or logging in.
- Interestingly, 39% of victims in the study have been targeted more than once, with people aged 35-44 bearing the brunt of repeat attacks.
- To protect themselves from online fraud, Romans have developed precautionary measures such as verifying message sources, balking at unsolicited requests for personal data, and using antivirus software.
