Every year, thousands of Internet users fall victim to financial cybercrimes that leave them with empty pockets. Research by Kaspersky Lab reveals that more than half of Internet users (52%) who have fallen victim to online scams and lost money to cybercriminals have managed to get back only a small portion of that money, or none at all. 
With the variety and complexity of financial threats against consumers ever increasing, losses from online fraud, identity theft and hacking now run into the billions per year. And as many cases go unreported to authorities, the true economic cost is estimated to be significantly higher.
The research reveals how costly these attacks ultimately are for Internet victims and how profitable they have become for cybercriminals. On average, Internet users lose $476 per attack and one in ten people surveyed said they lost more than $5,000 in one or more attacks.
A large majority of Internet users say they conduct financial transactions online (81%) and just under half of users (44%) store their financial data on their smart devices. As more and more users now connect online to manage their finances, most cybercriminals are looking for opportunities to collect money directly, which makes it important for users to have strong Internet security to protect themselves and their money. ’ However, only 60% of Internet users protect all the devices they use to manage their financial data.
The behaviors regarding online security can be influenced by users who mistakenly believe that if they lose money in a transaction, it will be immediately returned to them by financial institutions. Almost half (45%) admit that they believe they will be compensated by banks for the cybercrime, without any problem, but the research shows that over half (52%)’ those who have reported a monetary loss have not had all their stolen money returned to them.
“Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to deceive and exploit consumers, which is why it is crucial for Internet users to be on their guard at all times,” says Vyacheslav Zakorzhevsky, Head of Kaspersky Lab’s Anti-Malware Research Team.
"Cybercriminals can commit financial crimes through malware, phishing , and many other techniques. So don't assume you'll get your money back if you fall victim to online financial crime. The best way to protect your online financial information is to make sure you don't fall victim to exploitation, and that's why we recommend special software that will protect your identity (your personal information) and keep sensitive personal data out of the hands of cybercriminals."
Kaspersky Safe Money, a key feature of Kaspersky Lab's home products, such as Kaspersky Total Security, is a suite of financial security technologies designed to protect users' online financial transactions with three key principles — trusted site, trusted connection, and trusted environment. The solution's ability to effectively protect users against financial threats has been certified by numerous independent researchers.
