{"id":5875,"date":"2026-02-17T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/press\/?p=5875"},"modified":"2026-02-13T08:42:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T16:42:43","slug":"malwarebytes-scam-guard-prevented-high-risk-fraud-in-15-of-interactions-protecting-users-from-1000-in-losses-or-significant-personal-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/press\/2026\/02\/17\/malwarebytes-scam-guard-prevented-high-risk-fraud-in-15-of-interactions-protecting-users-from-1000-in-losses-or-significant-personal-risk","title":{"rendered":"Malwarebytes\u00a0Scam\u00a0Guard\u00a0Prevented High-Risk Fraud in 15% of Interactions, Protecting Users from $1000+ in\u00a0Losses or Significant Personal Risk\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The leading scam detection tool is now available on desktop<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SANTA CLARA, Calif. \u2013 Feb 17, 2026 \u2013 <\/strong>Malwarebytes, a global leader in online protection, expanded the availability of its leading scam detection tool Scam Guard to desktop for both Windows and Mac. The free scam protection tool provides real-time feedback on scams, threats and malware alongside digital safety recommendations. Combining the ease of an AI chatbot with the company\u2019s deep cybersecurity expertise and decades of threat intelligence, users get instant, trusted results about today\u2019s most pernicious threat to consumers \u2013 scams.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scams have become a global crisis, draining $442 billion from consumers over the past year, according to GASA\u2019s Global State of Scams 2025 report. Even though more than half of adults encounter scams daily, two-thirds of people<\/a> can\u2019t tell a scam apart from a real thing. Whether users come across a suspicious message on social media, a phishing attempt in their email, a questionable text message or a call from a hometown number, Scam Guard provides immediate, expert advice to keep them secure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScams today are nearly impossible for people to spot with the naked eye,\u201d said Michael Sherwood, VP of Product, Malwarebytes. \u201cCriminals are leveraging AI tools to create impeccable impersonations of well-known brands, deepfake audio or video of trusted companions and taking advantage of cracks in our technology foundations to trick people into losing billions of dollars. We must fight back, through innovative products, through policy and regulation, and through community. No one is too smart to fall prey today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released last June for mobile users, it’s already having an impact. In 15% of interactions, Malwarebytes Scam Guard<\/a> prevented users from losing $1,000+ or incurring severe personal risk by flagging the high-risk scenarios. The scam detection tool is one way Malwarebytes is empowering users and tackling the scam industry alongside its industry-leading antivirus protection Malwarebytes Premium, threat-stopping and ad blocking browser extension, Browser Guard, and other tools for identity protection and privacy, including VPN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Features<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n