70 Social Engineering Statistics for 2025

Social engineering attacks have escalated significantly, exploiting human vulnerabilities such as trust and fear rather than traditional software or network flaws. These attacks are predominantly financially motivated, with phishing being the most common type, followed by smishing, vishing, pretexting, and business email compromise (BEC). The rise of AI-driven techniques has increased the success rate of these attacks, with phishing alone costing businesses an average of $4.88 million in 2024. Regional differences show that while North America remains a highly targeted area, the Asia-Pacific has become the most attacked region, with significant increases in phishing incidents. To combat these threats, organizations are encouraged to bolster detection, response, and recovery capabilities, focusing on employee education, implementing strong technical controls, and encouraging verification of information requests. Despite advancements in defensive technologies and training, attackers continue to adapt and exploit new channels swiftly.