MOSCOW, Dec 1 (NNN-TELESUR) — According to a Kaspersky Security Network study, only in 2025, Central America accounts for 27.1 million victims of cyber-insecurity, with Costa Rica leading at 7.9 million, followed by Guatemala with 6.4 million and Panama with 6.3 million.
More than 1,600 phishing attacks are registered in the Latin American region per second, with an economic damage that exceeds 1% of some countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Authorities have had to declare national emergencies, such was the case in Costa Rica in 2022, after multiple government bodies were attacked by the Conti ransomware group.
Phishing is a digital fraud technique in which criminals impersonate legitimate companies, banks, or businesses to trick users into revealing their personal or banking credentials. The cyber-attackers design fake websites that mimic the logos and branding of well-known sites.
The Kaspersky study indicates that people cannot distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent websites, leading to one out of two Latin Americans falling for impulse buying scams. In Central America, the figure is 54% for Guatemalans, 53% for Panamanians, and 52% for Costa Ricans.
These digital frauds expand rapidly, refining their methods and making the region “one of the preferred targets in Latin America.” In 2025, the Dominican Republic accumulated 4 million attacks and El Salvador 2.5 million, representing between 7,000 and 11,000 attempts daily.
The scams intensify during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday, when cyber-attackers spread fake offers and cloned websites that mimic legitimate businesses. Social media, emails, and instant messages are the main channels used to lure the victims.
The cloned websites collect personal, financial, and banking credentials, and this data is used to clone credit cards, make fraudulent charges, or resell information. The economic impact is considerable, since 29% of those affected lose between US$100 and US$500.
Carolina Mojica, Consumer Products Manager for Latin America at Kaspersky, explained that phishing is a cheap and widespread attack, ideal for periods of high commercial activity. She noted that the defense begins with caution and verification of each link or offer.
Cybersecurity has been one of the “priorities” in the dialogue between Latin America and the European Union. In 2023, the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union, was launched to create the conditions for cooperation on this issue. — NNN-TELESUR