Fraud is evolving faster than many organisations can adapt. A new global study shows that while executives are increasingly aware of emerging threats, a significant number acknowledge they are falling behind in their ability to respond—especially as fraudsters adopt artificial intelligence and automation to scale attacks with greater speed and precision.
A global leader in AI-powered Decision Intelligence, Provenir, highlights the growing strain on organisations to strengthen fraud defenses while still delivering seamless, low-friction digital experiences that customers expect .
Executives acknowledge difficulty responding to new fraud trends
One of the study’s most striking findings is that 50% of credit risk and fraud executives worldwide say their biggest challenge is the inability to detect and react quickly to new fraud trends. This acknowledgement points to a fundamental vulnerability in many existing fraud prevention strategies, where static rules and fragmented data often fail to keep pace with modern fraud techniques.
As fraud schemes grow more dynamic and adaptive, companies are increasingly exposed to risks that can materialise and escalate in real time — often before traditional controls are able to respond.
Rising anxiety around AI-enabled fraud
Concerns are intensifying as fraudsters adopt artificial intelligence to automate attacks, mimic legitimate behaviour, and exploit digital onboarding and application processes at scale. The survey found that 77% of executives are concerned about AI-enabled fraud threats, reflecting widespread recognition that fraud has entered a new era of sophistication.
These concerns span industries, from financial services and insurance to retail and telecommunications, as organisations contend with fraud attempts that are faster, more personalised, and harder to detect than ever before.
Companies accelerate adoption of AI-driven defenses
In response to these challenges, many organisations are accelerating investments in advanced fraud prevention technologies. The survey shows that 75% of respondents are deploying AI-driven, adaptive fraud prevention solutions, while 74% are leveraging real-time anomaly detection to identify suspicious activity as it occurs.
These approaches signal a shift away from reactive, rules-based models toward more dynamic systems capable of learning, adapting, and responding to emerging fraud patterns in real time. For many leaders, AI is no longer optional—it is becoming foundational to effective fraud management.
Defining the building blocks of a strong fraud strategy
When asked to identify the most important elements of a comprehensive fraud strategy, executives emphasised the need for better data visibility, integration, and customer-centricity.
- 33% said gaining a comprehensive fraud risk view of customer data was most important
- 23% cited reducing friction in the customer experience as critical
- 22% emphasized aligning data at the customer level rather than by channel
- 19% pointed to breaking down data silos between fraud and credit teams
These findings highlight a growing understanding that fraud prevention cannot operate in isolation. Instead, it must be integrated across teams and systems to provide a unified, real-time view of risk at the customer level.
Future priorities: Automation, accuracy and fraud loss reduction
Looking ahead, organisations are focused on strengthening both efficiency and effectiveness within their fraud and risk operations. Survey respondents identified several key areas of investment over the next phase of their fraud prevention journeys:
- 54% aim to enhance operational efficiency and automation
- 54% plan to improve the accuracy of artificial intelligence and machine learning models
- 52% are focused on reducing overall fraud losses
These priorities reflect the dual mandate facing risk leaders: manage growing volumes of transactions and data while maintaining precision and minimising false positives that can frustrate customers and strain operations.
Fraud prevention’s expanding role in business strategy
The study also reveals that fraud prevention is no longer viewed solely as a defensive function. Organisations increasingly see it as a driver of broader business outcomes and competitive advantage.
Beyond reducing fraud losses, respondents said their fraud strategies are expected to help:
- 57% increase in customer retention and loyalty
- 55% enhance customer experience and reduce friction
- 51% improve overall profitability or risk-adjusted returns
- 50% enable event-driven, real-time decisioning
These results demonstrate a growing alignment between fraud prevention, customer experience, and revenue growth—areas that were once managed separately but are now deeply interconnected.
Executive insight on the speed of fraud evolution
“The biggest risk today isn’t just fraud itself, rather it’s the speed and sophistication at which fraud vectors are evolving, with half of institutions indicating keeping pace with this race remains their greatest challenge,” said Carol Hamilton, Chief Commercial Officer, Provenir. “AI-driven, real-time, and adaptive fraud prevention is essential to improving model accuracy and protecting customers without adding friction to the experience.”
Her perspective reflects a broader industry shift toward viewing speed and adaptability as the defining factors of successful fraud prevention in the modern digital economy.
About the study methodology
The survey was conducted in early December 2025 by The Harris Poll and included 203 respondents across North America, EMEA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.
Participants held the title of director or higher and were responsible for deploying AI-based solutions within their organisations. All respondents were involved in risk evaluation, credit approvals, fraud detection, or personalised offers across industries, including banking, credit unions, financial services, FinTech, insurance, wholesale, retail and telecommunications.
