Akamai

Santa Clara – October 29, 2026 -- Online scam detections roughly doubled from 3.2 million to 6.4 million over the past year and surpassed traditional phishing in volume for the first time, according to Bolster AI threat intelligence featured in Akamai's 2026 State of the Internet: Fraud and Abuse Report.

Scams pass phishing in Q1 2026 as attackers pursue direct payment

Bolster AI drew on data collected between July 2025 and June 2026. Scams overtook phishing in Q1 2026, driven by counterfeit storefronts, investment scams and payment fraud. Attackers are moving from credential theft toward taking money directly from consumers.

Phishing is not shrinking. Phishing detections grew 61% by Q2 2026, so criminals are adding tactics rather than replacing old ones.