Q COSTARICA — Most cybercrimes in Costa Rica fall into two categories: online fraud and identity theft, which together account for 84% of reported cases, according to a cybersecurity report prepared by the Cybersecurity Research, Development, and Innovation Laboratory at the National University (UNA).
The study details that 62.1% of incidents are related to online fraud, while 21.7% are linked to identity theft.
This pattern confirms that digital attacks primarily focus on exploiting people’s trust and their vulnerability under pressure or fatigue.
Between January 2018 and August 2025, 40,457 reports of cybercrimes were filed, reflecting sustained growth in recent years, according to the report based on data from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).
The increase has been particularly rapid in the most recent period. Between 2023 and 2024, reports of domestic violence increased from 5,287 to 10,398 cases, representing a 96.7% rise.
Furthermore, in the first eight months of 2025, the total number of reports surpassed the previous year’s total, reaching 10,598.
Regarding geographic distribution, 79% of cases are concentrated in the Greater Metropolitan Area (gam), with San José leading at 38.2%, followed by Alajuela (19.2%), Heredia (11.4%), and Cartago (10.4%).
The profile of the victims shows that 86% are between 18 and 64 years old, with the highest incidence among people aged 30 to 39.
The distribution by sex is practically equal, indicating that the risk is not dependent on gender.
The report also notes that, although there has been progress in the adoption of security tools, this progress is not always uniform.
Some more advanced technologies have high levels of implementation, while basic measures are not yet widespread.
Meanwhile, the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity is progressing gradually. Twenty percent of institutions already use or test it, primarily to detect threats and monitor events, although there are still few teams specializing in this area.