A groundbreaking report released by cybersecurity firm McAfee on February 4, 2026, reveals that the average Indian now spends 102 hours a year—the equivalent of over four full days—simply trying to determine if messages, calls, and emails are genuine or scams.
The study, titled “2026 State of the Scamiverse,” highlights a “trust crisis” in India’s digital landscape, fueled by the rapid sophistication of AI-generated deception.
1. The Scale of the “Scamiverse” in India
Scams have evolved from occasional annoyances into a persistent daily tax on productivity and mental energy for Indian users.
- Volume: On average, an Indian user receives 13 scam communications every single day across platforms like WhatsApp, SMS, email, and social media.
- The AI Factor: Scammers are increasingly using GenAI to eliminate traditional “red flags” like poor grammar. These messages now use professional branding and “polished” language that mimics banks, delivery services, and government agencies.
- Common Lures: The report identified fake motor vehicle challans, delivery notifications, and account verification requests as the most successful tactics in 2026.
2. The “Linkless” Scam Trend
A significant finding in the 2026 report is the rise of linkless scams, designed to bypass traditional security filters that scan for malicious URLs.
- Psychological Play: Instead of sending a link immediately, scammers initiate a conversation to build rapport.
- High Response Rate: More than 1 in 5 people received suspicious messages with no links; alarmingly, 66% of recipients replied to these DMs, unknowingly triggering the next phase of the fraud.
- Deepfake Integration: Scammers are now layering in AI-generated voice notes and deepfake videos to impersonate family members or celebrities, making the “102-hour” vetting process even more difficult for the average person.
3. Declining Confidence vs. Increased Caution
The report highlights a growing paradox: while Indians are more aware of scams, they are feeling less capable of stopping them.
| Metric | Finding |
| Confidence Gap | 2 in 5 users feel less confident about spotting scams than they did in 2025. |
| Increased Caution | 82% of Indians say they are now significantly more cautious about opening messages from unknown senders. |
| Exposure | 90% of Indians have encountered fake or AI-generated celebrity endorsements (with Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt being the most impersonated). |
4. Impact on Digital Behavior
The sheer time cost (102 hours annually) is leading to “digital fatigue” and a fundamental shift in how Indians use their devices.
- Loss of Trust: Frequent exposure to realistic fakes has led to a 37% decrease in trust toward digital communications.
- Reporting Hesitancy: Despite the time spent identifying scams, many victims still do not report them to authorities due to embarrassment or the perception that the “system is too slow.”
Conclusion: Resilience in the Age of AI
The 2026 report serves as a stark reminder that as AI tools become a daily utility, they are also being weaponized. The “102-hour tax” represents not just lost time, but a growing cognitive burden on a population that is otherwise one of the most digitally engaged in the world.
