Understanding the Scam Kill Chain | Global Anti-Scam Summit London 2025

Date of Event: 26–27 March 2025

Event: Global Anti-Scam Summit London 2025

In this keynote session, Laura Kankaala, Head of Threat Intelligence at F-Secure, introduced a fresh perspective on scam analysis through F-Secure’s newly developed Scam Kill Chain framework.

Using real-life examples—including a Finnish TV documentary where she ethically hacked a YouTube influencer—Laura demonstrated how scams follow a repeatable structure, despite surface-level variation. From reconnaissance and targeted phishing to credential theft and monetisation, the underlying mechanics often remain constant.

The Scam Kill Chain provides a systematic breakdown of scam tactics and techniques, making it easier to understand, detect, and counteract fraudulent activity. Laura emphasised the importance of industry-wide collaboration, pointing out that while scammers hide in the dark, the anti-scam community can fight back openly and together.

This session reinforced the value of structured threat intelligence and transparent cooperation in disrupting online scams.