Almost two-thirds of businesses in EMEA & Asia Pacific report rising fraud losses, while 68% say their current fraud technology cannot keep pace with increasingly sophisticated, AI-enabled attacks, according to a global study commissioned by Experian.

The research, conducted by Forrester Consulting, reveals that as cybercrime networks expand and leverage Generative AI, 68% of business leaders admit their current security tools are no longer adequate to protect them.

Among other key findings are that 67% of respondents expect more attacks in 2026 than last year. Nearly 73% of businesses agree that sharing fraud intelligence is key to staying ahead of threats. Three-quarters of respondents believe that building trust within fraud consortiums is essential for success.

The study, based on insights from almost a thousand senior fraud decision-makers across nine countries in EMEA and APAC, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and Spain, exposed a growing gap in fraud prevention capabilities. Sector-specific trends show social engineering and identity theft rising in financial services and telcos, while friendly fraud and refund abuse are increasing in ecommerce.

Shail Deep, COO, Experian EMEA & APAC, said: “Fraud was never a static challenge, it’s constantly evolving. Generative AI is giving criminals unprecedented speed and sophistication. Businesses must modernise their fraud strategies now.

“Today, 71% of businesses are investing more in fraud technology than in human analysts, a clear signal that manual reviews and rules-based systems can no longer keep up. Device intelligence, behavioural analytics, and machine learning are becoming essential. Collaboration and innovation are no longer optional; they are the foundation of resilience in 2026 and beyond.”

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