Is Cybercrime Unavoidable? Consumer Perspectives on the Growing Trend

Cybercrime has become an everyday reality for millions of Americans. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, more than 859,000 suspected incidents were reported, with losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase from the previous year. Yet as these numbers rise, a troubling shift in public mindset has emerged: growing apathy toward prevention. Many consumers, resigned to the belief that victimization is inevitable, have begun to lose confidence in cybersecurity measures and question whether constant vigilance is worth the effort. This sense of inevitability is dangerous. Apathy and inaction do not reduce risk—they amplify it, creating more opportunities for cybercriminals and perpetuating a vicious cycle. 

Victimization and Underreporting

A recent survey by the National Cyber Security Alliance offers a troubling depiction of where consumers stand on this issue. Nearly one-third of respondents believe that the online theft of identity, data, assets, or money is simply unavoidable. Cybercrime victimization impacted 44% of those surveyed, and phishing alone accounts for 40% of all reported incidents. To many, cybercrime is becoming more normalized rather than perceived as an urgent, preventable threat.

Additionally, Shawn Waldman, CEO of Secure Cyber, noted that complexity in reporting, not knowing how to report cybercrimes, and shame are significant drivers of underreporting—with victims ultimately forfeiting any possible post-intervention. The FBI itself acknowledges that reporting is one of the first and most important steps in fighting crime, but that step remains one that many victims forego.

The Problem with Cybercrime

Part of what makes cybercrime feel so overwhelming is that barriers for criminals keep dropping. Will Lyne, head of cyber intelligence at the UK's National Crime Agency, stated that ransomware and other attacks are increasingly performed by opportunistic, rather than sophisticated criminal enterprises. With the help of open-source projects and AI tools, perpetrators no longer need advanced technical skills to carry out effective attacks. Ransomware models have also evolved from simple encryption attacks to double-extortion schemes that steal and weaponize sensitive data as additional leverage against victims.

AI will only accelerate the problem going forward, enabling criminals to create more convincing phishing messages, automate more complex scams, and target victims more efficiently. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has assessed that AI lowers the barrier for novice cybercriminals, and that this will likely contribute to the global ransomware and fraud threat well into the future.

What Consumers Can Do to Protect Themselves

Just because you may be targeted by cybercrime doesn’t mean you should let it happen. Kelli DiCillo, CEO of Fatal Cyber Security, compared digital protection to wearing a seatbelt. The risk of an accident does not negate the need to buckle up. Rather, it makes it essential. A rise in the likelihood of a risk emphasizes the need for proactive protection, which can lead to an increase in safety and positive outcomes overall. She advises consumers to use safe cyber hygiene methods, like changing passwords often, using complex and long passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication on every account. You may also be eligible for free account fraud and credit score monitoring should your account be compromised.

Other safe habits include avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, monitoring accounts regularly for unusual activity, and reporting incidents to authorities promptly rather than waiting out of shame or assuming nothing can be done.

Institutions, Collaboration, and the Talent Gap

Individual action alone cannot solve this problem. In addition to self-reporting to bring awareness and resolution, public-private collaboration is essential to disrupting cybercriminal networks. Intelligence sharing between law enforcement, technology companies, and international partners is what allows agencies to act before victims even know they are being targeted. Policy frameworks must also evolve alongside the threat environment, keeping pace with AI-enabled attack methods that existing regulations were not designed to address.

Compounding this challenge is a severe shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals. The global cybersecurity workforce gap has reached 4.8 million unfilled roles. Organizations with significant security staff shortages face data breach costs that are $1.76 million higher on average than their well-staffed counterparts. Closing that gap is one of the most direct and measurable ways to reduce systemic risk for everyone.

Cybersecurity Education at Capitol Tech

Cybercrime cannot be fully eliminated, but adaptation, preparation, and investment in professionals who understand how to navigate an evolving threat landscape can help to fight back. Capitol Tech's MRes in Cyber Intelligence and Security is designed to help graduates develop the technical and analytical expertise needed to stay ahead of threats that are growing more sophisticated by the day. As cybercrime becomes a defining challenge of modern digital life, the professionals equipped to fight it will be among the most essential in any sector.

Explore what a degree from Capitol Tech can do for you! To learn more, contact our Admissions team or request more information. 

Written by Jordan Ford
Edited by Erica Decker