1: The most popular fraud concern categories (September 2026 - present)
This ordering is meaningful. It suggests consumers are thinking less about “cybersecurity” as a concept, and more about identity harm, account takeover, and recovery. In other words: people aren’t only asking “How do I prevent this?” — they’re also asking “What do I do now?”
| Rank | Category | What it may signal | Fraud types commonly connected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identity | Consumers fear long-term fallout: credit damage, new accounts, impersonation. | ID theft, synthetic identity, new account fraud, tax/benefits fraud, impersonation-driven theft. |
| 2 | Victim assistance | High urgency: people need steps, reporting paths, and reassurance after an incident. | Recovery from scams, reporting fraud, dispute steps, identity restoration, documentation guidance. |
| 3 | Online accounts | Account takeover anxiety: “Was my email/bank/social account hacked?” | ATO, credential stuffing, MFA bypass, phishing, SIM swap, session hijacking. |
| 4 | Credit & other cards | People want fast clarity: what’s fraud vs. a mistake, and what happens next. | Card-not-present fraud, card testing, skimming, wallet/app fraud, chargeback confusion. |
| 5 | Social media | Scams are “relationship-based” now: DMs, impersonation, marketplace fraud. | Impersonation scams, romance scams, fake giveaways, marketplace purchase scams, account hijacking. |
| 6 | Children | Parents are worried about devices, exposure, privacy, and money apps. | Online predators, gaming scams, phishing via platforms, family account compromise, identity misuse. |
| 7 | Students | High churn + new independence = higher vulnerability and fewer “gut-check” moments. | Employment scams, scholarship scams, rental scams, money mule recruiting, payment app fraud. |
| 8 | Computer | “Is my device safe?” is often really “Am I being controlled or watched?” | Tech support scams, remote access tools, malware, pop-up scams, compromised browsers. |
| 9 | Privacy | People want to reduce exposure: unwanted contact, data leakage, tracking. | Data broker risks, doxxing, phishing targeting, identity exposure, account recovery abuse. |
Simple visual: category concern ranking
This isn’t a percentage chart — it’s a quick visualization of the ranking order, where Rank 1 is the strongest signal.
The top of the list is about identity harm and “what do I do now?”. The bottom is about reducing exposure and strengthening everyday digital habits.
2: The “most-read” subjects: what people are trying to solve right now
When a topic shows up in “most-read,” it often means consumers are encountering it in the wild, hearing about it from friends, seeing it on social media, or experiencing a close-call. These subjects also reveal something important: fraud is increasingly conversational and mobile — phone calls, texts, remote access, and impersonation.
Most-read subjects (as provided)
- Military Romance Scams
- Mobile Deposit Scams
- Scammers posing as your financial institution
- Mobile - short code numbers
- Phantom hacker scam
- Identity theft - victim assistance
- Online purchase fraud
- Prevent identity theft
- How to tell if you're being scammed
- IoT devices
- Account: what to do if hacked
- How to report fraud
- How to keep your identity private
- How to block unwanted calls
- How to avoid phishing emails
- Text phishing (smishing)
- Charitable giving
- P2P payments
- Credit card safety
- Employment scams
- Check fraud
Notice how many of these are not “technical.” They’re human situations: trust, urgency, relationships, and uncertainty about what’s legitimate.
What this pattern suggests
1) Impersonation is a primary driver.
“Scammers posing as your financial institution” and “phantom hacker” topics reflect a broader trend: criminals are winning by sounding official and creating urgency.
2) Mobile and text are the front door.
Short codes, smishing, and mobile deposit scams point to a simple reality: people live on phones, and scammers follow attention.
3: Consumers want recovery steps.
“Victim assistance,” “how to report,” and “what to do if hacked” show that people aren’t just browsing — many are looking for immediate action steps.
Quick table: how these subjects map to real-world fraud categories
| Theme | Examples from the list | What consumers often need most |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonation & authority pressure | Posing as FI, Phantom hacker | “Stop, verify, don’t share codes” scripts + verification steps. |
| Mobile-first fraud | Short codes, Smishing, Mobile deposit scams | Simple phone checks, safe messaging habits, deposit controls & red flags. |
| Relationship manipulation | Military romance scams | Red flags, emotional pressure cues, and a “pause and ask someone” plan. |
| Online commerce & payment rails | Online purchase fraud, P2P payments, Credit card safety | Safer payment choices, dispute steps, and “when it’s too good to be true” cues. |
| Recovery & reporting | Victim assistance, How to report fraud, Account hacked | A clear checklist: contain, report, document, and protect identity. |
| Work & life-event scams | Employment scams, Charitable giving | Verification habits and “never pay to get paid” / charity vetting steps. |
| Legacy fraud that still spikes | Check fraud | Deposit hold expectations, counterfeit check cues, and “why it happens” clarity. |
What financial institutions can do with this insight
Popularity lists are useful because they help you reduce information overload. You don’t need to publish everything. You need to publish what people are already looking for — and make it easy to understand.
Start with the “Top 3”
Build a simple, repeatable program around Identity, Victim Assistance, and Online Accounts. These categories capture prevention + “what do I do now?”.
Publish in “quick reads”
Break complex scams into short guidance pieces: what it is, how it works, red flags, what to do. Consumers want clarity, not long articles.
Use scripts, not slogans
For impersonation scams, provide short scripts: “I’m going to hang up and call the number on my card.” Scripts reduce panic and improve follow-through.
If you’d like, you can link each subject above to a corresponding article and turn this page into a “what people are reading most” hub that updates monthly.