Image by Stephen Phillips, from Unsplash
Over Half of Americans Targeted In Email Scams
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Last Updated: Jun 9, 2025
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Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Content Manager
If you’ve been getting more scam messages lately, you’re not imagining things, and Google now has the numbers to back it up.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- 61% of U.S. users were targeted by email scams last year.
- More than half of Americans experienced a data breach.
- Most users still rely on passwords and 2FA, Google reports.
The survey conducted by Google shows that more than 60% of U.S. users have observed rising online scams throughout the previous year. Alarmingly, 61% of users have received direct attacks through email, Google researchers add that the situation is even worse via text message.
Google says more than half of users have experienced a data breach, yet “almost all users are yet to upgrade their accounts to make them safer and more secure,” as reported by Forbes.
Despite Google’s warning about their declining security, the majority of users continue to use traditional authentication methods, including passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA).
“Passwords are not only painful to maintain, but are also more prone to phishing and often leaked through data breaches,” the company warns.
The solution? Google suggests to use passkeys and social sign-ins, like “Sign in with Google.” These newer tools are easier to use and much harder to hack. “Passkeys are phishing-resistant and can log you in simply with the method you use to unlock your device (like your fingerprint or face ID) — no password required.”
But the company wants everyone on board. “We want to move beyond passwords altogether, while keeping sign-ins as easy as possible,” it says. In short, if you’re still using passwords to protect your Gmail and Google accounts, it’s time for an upgrade, not just for convenience, but for your own safety.
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