Online Scams Outpace Phishing as Detections Top Six Million in Q2 2026, Akamai Finds

Akamai's latest threat intelligence report shows that online scam activity surged dramatically in the second quarter of 2026, with more than six million scam attempts identified – a figure that not only doubles the volume recorded in the prior quarter but also eclipses the total number of phishing incidents for the same period.

The research, which aggregates data from the company's global network monitoring infrastructure, indicates a 100% increase in scam detections compared with Q1 2026. While phishing attempts remain a persistent problem, they accounted for roughly half of the total malicious traffic, marking the first time that scams have overtaken phishing as the dominant category of online fraud.

Scams encompass a broad spectrum of deceptive practices, ranging from fake tech support calls and fraudulent investment schemes to counterfeit e‑commerce offers and romance‑based extortion. Analysts attribute the spike to several converging factors: the continued normalization of remote work, which expands the attack surface; the rise of digital assets and cryptocurrency platforms that lure inexperienced investors; and the proliferation of automated tools that enable threat actors to launch large‑scale campaigns with minimal effort.

For consumers and businesses, the escalation presents heightened risk. Victims of scams often suffer financial loss, identity theft, and prolonged exposure to malware. Enterprises, particularly small and medium‑sized firms, report increased strain on security teams as they scramble to distinguish legitimate communications from sophisticated fraud attempts. In response, many organizations are bolstering email filtering, deploying AI‑driven anomaly detection, and investing in employee awareness programs that emphasize verification of unsolicited requests.

Looking ahead, cybersecurity experts caution that the upward trajectory is unlikely to reverse without coordinated action. They point to the need for stronger industry standards, more rapid sharing of threat intelligence, and regulatory frameworks that hold malicious operators accountable across borders. Akamai plans to expand its monitoring capabilities and collaborate with law‑enforcement agencies to disrupt the infrastructure that underpins large‑scale scam operations. Meanwhile, users are urged to remain skeptical of unsolicited offers, verify contact information through official channels, and report suspicious activity to their service providers.