Uruguay vs. Cybercrime 2025
As Uruguay accelerates its digital transformation, cybercriminals move even faster. Like a modern-day Tom & Jerry, where technology (Tom) chases after the scammer (Jerry), the latter always stays one step ahead—except in real life, no one’s laughing. In the last decade, Uruguay has seen massive digital advancement. But along with its benefits, a silent epidemic has emerged: cybercrime. Two recent articles—one in El Observador titled “Scams: The Epidemic That Keeps Growing,” and another in Búsqueda called “Banks See Cybercrime as One of Their Top Concerns”—highlight the scale of the issue. Datasec’s 2025 Report on the State of Cybersecurity in Uruguay adds hard data and projections to bring clarity to this growing threat. According to El Observador, fraud complaints in Uruguay increased by 1242% between 2015 and 2024, with over 25,000 reported cases in the past year alone. Platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram have replaced old-school scams as the preferred channels for fraud. Meanwhile, cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated social engineering techniques, preying on low levels of digital literacy. Victims span all age groups. As Búsqueda reports, banks are dealing with a rise in both system-level attacks and direct scams targeting customers. This has driven major investments in fraud prevention, 24/7 monitoring, and awareness campaigns. Still, informed users are the strongest defense—meaning that the response must go beyond just technical fixes. The 2025 Datasec Cybersecurity Report offers compelling evidence: – 175,000 Uruguayans were victims of digital fraud in 2024. – The AGESIC CSIRT responded to over 14,000 incidents—a 65% increase from 2023. – Banking leads in number of incidents, followed by public sector and private companies. – The top threats: phishing, ransomware, and data breaches. – Instagram has become a leading platform for scams, as confirmed by the Technical Police (El Observador, 2025). The message is clear: Without user awareness, even the best systems can fail. While the media tells the stories, Datasec provides the data. Together, they show that cybersecurity is not only technical—it’s cultural and structural. What’s needed are sustained, holistic, and human-centered strategies. This isn’t a cartoon—there are many “Jerrys” running off with your money. As the report makes clear: Cybersecurity isn’t a product; it’s a continuous process. What’s at stake isn’t just infrastructure, but the country’s digital trust. Investing in protection, raising awareness, and fostering coordinated public-private efforts is no longer optional—it’s urgent. Because in the digital world, if you’re not protecting yourself… you’re just part of the show. – For more information, write to us at contacto@datasec-soft.com Uruguay vs. Cybercrime
A crime on the rise
The financial system under siege
Data that underscores the threat
More than just technology
A national priority