COSTA MESA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan 13, 2026–
Experian ® today released its annual Future of Fraud Forecast, identifying five fraud trends expected to impact businesses and consumers the most in 2026. This year’s forecast shows fraudsters are rapidly weaponizing technologies to launch attacks that are more autonomous and harder to detect. From AI-driven scams to deepfake job candidates, these threats signal a new era of risk.
kAm%9:D AC6DD C6=62D6 762EFC6D >F=E:>65:2] ‘:6H E96 7F== C6=62D6 96C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?^k^2mk^Am
kAmtIA6C:2?VD a_ae uFEFC6 @7 uC2F5 u@C642DEk^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]7E4]8@GTau?6HD\6G6?EDTau?6HDTauAC6DD\C6=62D6DTaua_adTau_bTau?6H\7E4\52E2\D9@H\3:8\;F>A\C6A@CE65\=@DD6D\7C2F5\`ad\3:==:@?\a_acU2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@Clu%rU2>Aj:?56IlaU2>Aj>5dl4d2_e_25g6aa7_b6eha35c522hg5f6g`Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQmu%rk^2m 52E2[ 4@?DF>6CD =@DE >@C6 E92? S`a]d 3:==:@? E@ 7C2F5 😕 a_ac] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauFD\8@]6IA6C:2?]4@>TauE6?E9\2??F2=\FD\:56?E:EJ\2?5\7C2F5\C6A@CEU2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@CltIA6C:2?Z52E2U2>Aj:?56IlbU2>Aj>5dl73dead3c6g4a442g5eac3dfehece4faeQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQmtIA6C:2? 52E2k^2m 7@F?5 ?62C=J e_T @7 4@>A2?:6D C6A@CE65 2? :?4C62D6 😕 E96:C 7C2F5 =@DD6D 7C@> a_ac E@ a_ad] pD 7C2F5 2446=6C2E6D[ tIA6C:2? FC86D @C82?:K2E:@?D E@ 25@AE >F=E:=2J6C65[ px\A@H6C65 7C2F5 AC6G6?E:@? DEC2E68:6D E@ 4@>32E E96 ?6IE H2G6 @7 E649?@=@8J\5C:G6? D496>6D] %9:D J62C’D E@A E9C62ED :?4=F56ik^Am
k@=mk=:mk6>m|249:?6\E@\>249:?6 >2J96>k^6>mi pD @C82?:K2E:@?D C246 E@ =6G6C286 286?E:4 px[ E96 D966C G@=F>6 @7 A=2J6CD 6?E6C:?8 E96 DA246 H:== >2<6 7C2F5 :?6G:E23=6 2?5 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ :8?@C6] uC2F5DE6CD H:== 6IA=@:E 286?E:4 px E@ 4@>>:E ?6H =6G6=D @7 5:8:E2= 7C2F5] (:E9 >249:?6\E@\>249:?6 :?E6C24E:@?D :?:E:2E:?8 EC2?D24E:@?D H:E9@FE 4=62C @H?6CD9:A @7 =:23:=:EJ[ 3FD:?6DD6D H:== 7246 8C@H:?8 F?46CE2:?EJ 2C@F?5 286?E @H?6CD9:A[ :?E6?E 2?5 C:D<] tIA6C:2? AC65:4ED 7C2F5 H:== C6249 2 E:AA:?8 A@:?E E92E H:== DA2C< >2;@C 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 2?5 564:D:@?D 2C@F?5 =:23:=:EJ[ C68F=2E:@? 2?5 E96 C@=6 @7 286?E:4 px 😕 D92A:?8 C6DA@?D:3=6 5:8:E2= 4@>>6C46]k^=:mk=:mk6>ms66A72<6D @FED>2CE w#k^6>mi t>A=@J>6?E 7C2F5 😀 D6E E@ 6D42=2E6 😕 E96 C6>@E6 H@C<7@C46 2D 86?6C2E:G6 px Wv6?pxX E@@=D 86?6C2E6 9JA6C\E2:=@C65 C6DF>6D 2?5 566A72<6 42?5:52E6D 42A23=6 @7 A2DD:?8 :?E6CG:6HD 😕 C62= E:>6] tIA6C:2? 7@C642DED E92E 6>A=@J6CD H:== F?@H:?8=J @?3@2C5 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 2C6?’E H9@ E96J D2J E96J 2C6[ 8:G:?8 325 24E@CD 2446DD E@ D6?D:E:G6 DJDE6>D] %9:D 6>6C8:?8 E9C62E 😀 6IA64E65 E@ C6D92A6 9@H @C82?:K2E:@?D G6C:7J :56?E:EJ 2?5 :?E6?E 😕 E96 9:C:?8 AC@46DD]k^=:mk=:mk6>m$>2CE6C 9@>6D[ D42C:6C E9C62EDk^6>mi $>2CE 9@>6D 2C6 :?EC@5F4:?8 ?6H 6?ECJ A@:?ED 7@C 7C2F5] s6G:46D =:<6 G:CEF2= 2DD:DE2?ED[ D>2CE =@4D[ D>2CE 2AA=:2?46D 2?5 E96 4@>:?8 FD6 @7 9F>2?@:5 C@3@ED H:== 36 6IA=@:E65 3J 325 24E@CD E@ 2446DD A6CD@?2= 52E2[ >@?:E@C 9@FD69@=5 24E:G:EJ 2?5 6G6? E2<6 4@?EC@= @7 A9JD:42= 2446DD A@:?ED] tIA6C:2? AC65:4ED E92E 2D E96 25@AE:@? @7 D>2CE 9@>6 56G:46D 4@?E:?F6D E@ 8C@H[ D@ H:== E96 C:D<[ H:E9 ?6H 7@C>D @7 C2?D@>H2C6 2?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 244@F?E 9:;24<:?8[ EFC?:?8 4@?G6?:6?46 :?E@ GF=?6C23:=:EJ 7@C 4@?DF>6CD]k^=:mk=:mk6>m(63D:E6 4=@?:?8 H:== @G6CH96=> 7C2F5 E62>Dk^6>mi r=@?65 H63D:E6D[ H96C6 7C2F5DE6CD C6A=:42E6 =68:E:>2E6 D:E6D E@ A9:D9 4@?DF>6CD[ 2C6 364@>:?8 62D:6C E@ 4C62E6 E9C@F89 px E@@=D 2?5 92C56C E@ 6=:>:?2E6] }@E23=J[ 6G6? 27E6C E2<65@H? C6BF6DED[ DA@@765 5@>2:?D 4@?E:?F6 E@ C6DFC7246] pD 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 7@C465 E@ A=2J H924<\2\>@=6 E@ 255C6DD E96D6 E9C62ED[ E96J C:D< 36:?8 5:DEC24E65 7C@> 3C@256C 7C2F5 DEC2E68:6D[ 2==@H:?8 @E96C E9C62ED E@ 6D42=2E6] tIA6C:2? 7@C642DED E92E 4=@?65 D:E6D H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 42FD6 D:8?:7:42?E =@DD6D 7@C @?=:?6 C6E2:=6CD 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 3J EC:4<:?8 4@?DF>6CD :?E@ D92C:?8 E96:C 4C656?E:2=D[ 7F6=:?8 4C65:E 42C5 7C2F5[ 2446=6C2E:?8 :56?E:EJ E967E 2?5 DJ?E96E:4 :56?E:E:6D[ 2?5 724:=:E2E:?8 @E96C 7@C>D @7 7:?2?4:2= 7C2F5]k^=:mk=:mk6>mq@ED H:== 3C62< 962CED 2?5 32?< 244@F?EDk^6>mi t>@E:@?2==J :?E6==:86?E 3@ED A@H6C65 3J v6?px H:== 42CCJ @FE 4@>A=6I D42>D[ =:<6 C@>2?46 7C2F5 2?5 C6=2E:G6\:?\?665 D42>D[ H:E9@FE 2 9F>2? 369:?5 E96 <6J3@2C5] %96D6 3@ED H:== C6DA@?5 4@?G:?4:?8=J[ 3F:=5 ECFDE @G6C E:>6[ 2?5 >2?:AF=2E6 G:4E:>D H:E9 AC64:D:@? 2?5 6>@E:@?] pD E96J 364@>6 92C56C E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 7C@> C62= A6@A=6 2?5 8@@5 3@ED[ tIA6C:2? AC65:4ED 7C2F5 H:== D42=6 72DE6C 2?5 364@>6 >@C6 7:?2?4:2==J 2?5 ADJ49@=@8:42==J 52>28:?8]k^=:mk^@=m
kAm“%649?@=@8J 😀 2446=6C2E:?8 E96 6G@=FE:@? @7 7C2F5[ >2<:?8 :E >@C6 D@A9:DE:42E65 2?5 92C56C E@ 56E64E] qFD:?6DD6D ?665 24E:@?23=6 :?D:89ED E@ DE2J 29625 @7 E96D6 E9C62ED[” D2:5 z2E9=66? !6E6CD[ r9:67 x??@G2E:@? ~77:46C[ uC2F5 U2>Aj x56?E:EJ 2E tIA6C:2? }@CE9 p>6C:42] “qJ 4@>3:?:?8 5:776C6?E:2E65 52E2 H:E9 25G2?465 2?2=JE:4D 2?5 4FEE:?8\6586 E649?@=@8J[ 3FD:?6DD6D 42? DEC6?8E96? 7C2F5 5676?D6D[ D2768F2C5 4@?DF>6CD[ 2?5 56=:G6C D64FC6[ D62>=6DD 6IA6C:6?46D]”k^Am
kAmtIA6C:2?’D 7C2F5 AC6G6?E:@? D@=FE:@?D 96=A65 4=:6?ED 2G@:5 2? 6DE:>2E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]6IA6C:2?A=4]4@>Tau4@?E6?ETau52>Tau>2C<6E:?8Tau8=@32=TauA=4Tau6?Tau2DD6EDTau5@4F>6?EDTauC6DF=ED\2?5\AC6D6?E2E:@?DTau6IA6C:2?0DFDE2:?23:=:EJ0AC6D6?E2E:@?]A57U2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@ClTac`hZ3:==:@?U2>Aj:?56IlcU2>Aj>5dlhga2_6efe35`bhe`b22c7g4__ga7`7_eQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQmS`h 3:==:@?k^2m 😕 7C2F5 =@DD6D 8=@32==J 😕 a_ad] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE tIA6C:2?’D px\A@H6C65 7C2F5 56E64E:@? D@=FE:@?D 2G2:=23=6 @? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>Tau3FD:?6DDTauAC@5F4EDTau2D46?5U2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@CltIA6C:2?ZpD46?5Z!=2E7@C>TaeTabgcgaTbqU2>Aj:?56IldU2>Aj>5dlh6“3e7e_4h2`g_g3aa66e6f5ca_gb`_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQmtIA6C:2? pD46?5 !=2E7@C>™k^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]?6FC@\:5]4@>TauU2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@Cl}6FC@xsTaeTabga`fTbqDU2>Aj:?56IleU2>Aj>5dlce757h7bf6efb_d42_74bdhhfag42d46Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQm}6FC@xs’Dk^2m 3692G:@C2= 2?2=JE:4D[ A=62D6 G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>Tau3FD:?6DDTauD@=FE:@?DTau7C2F5\>2?286>6?EU2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@Cl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>Tau3FD:?6DDTauD@=FE:@?DTau7C2F5\>2?286>6?EU2>Aj:?56IlfU2>Aj>5dl756f227b5274c_dc24742_gb4a2abd67Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQm9EEADi^^HHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>^3FD:?6DD^D@=FE:@?D^7C2F5\>2?286>6?Ek^2m]k^Am
kAm%@ C68:DE6C 7@C tIA6C:2?’D a_ae uFEFC6 @7 uC2F5 u@C642DEi x?D:89ED :?E@ E96 }6IE (2G6 @7 px\sC:G6? uC2F5 H63:?2C @? u63] d[ `_ 2]>]–“ 2]>] !%[ G:D:Ei k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4ED]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^4E^r%n:5lD>2CE=:?AjFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauFD\8@]6IA6C:2?]4@>Taua_ae\7FEFC6\@7\7C2F5\7@C642DE\:?D:89ED\:?E@\E96\?6IE\H2G6\@7\px\5C:G6?\7C2F5U2>Aj6D966EldcbhchcfU2>Aj?6HD:E6>:5la_ae_“bd_hebhU2>Aj=2?l6?\&$U2>Aj2?49@Cl9EEADTbpTauTauFD\8@]6IA6C:2?]4@>Taua_ae\7FEFC6\@7\7C2F5\7@C642DE\:?D:89ED\:?E@\E96\?6IE\H2G6\@7\px\5C:G6?\7C2F5U2>Aj:?56IlgU2>Aj>5dl`bed45ga3_ghdff2hdebh2437e66dd`hQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ D92A6lQC64EQm9EEADi^^FD\8@]6IA6C:2?]4@>^a_ae\7FEFC6\@7\7C2F5\7@C642DE\:?D:89ED\:?E@\E96\?6IE\H2G6\@7\px\5C:G6?\7C2F5k^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>mp3@FE tIA6C:2?k^6>mk^Am
kAmtIA6C:2? 😀 2 8=@32= 52E2 2?5 E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?J[ A@H6C:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C A6@A=6 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] (6 96=A E@ C6567:?6 =6?5:?8 AC24E:46D[ F?4@G6C 2?5 AC6G6?E 7C2F5[ D:>A=:7J 962=E942C6[ 56=:G6C 5:8:E2= >2C<6E:?8 D@=FE:@?D[ 2?5 82:? 566A6C :?D:89ED :?E@ E96 2FE@>@E:G6 >2C<6E[ 2== FD:?8 @FC F?:BF6 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 52E2[ 2?2=JE:4D 2?5 D@7EH2C6] (6 2=D@ 2DD:DE >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 E@ C62=:K6 E96:C 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D 2?5 96=A E96> E@ D2G6 E:>6 2?5 >@?6J]k^Am
kAm(6 @A6C2E6 24C@DD 2 C2?86 @7 >2C<6ED[ 7C@> 7:?2?4:2= D6CG:46D E@ 962=E942C6[ 2FE@>@E:G6[ 28C:7:?2?46[ :?DFC2?46[ 2?5 >2?J >@C6 :?5FDECJ D68>6?ED]k^Am
kAm(6 :?G6DE 😕 E2=6?E65 A6@A=6 2?5 ?6H 25G2?465 E649?@=@8:6D E@ F?=@4< E96 A@H6C @7 52E2 2?5 E@ :??@G2E6] p u%$t `__ x?56I 4@>A2?J =:DE65 @? E96 {@?5@? $E@4< tI492?86 Wt)!}X[ H6 92G6 2 E62> @7 ad[`__ A6@A=6 24C@DD ba 4@F?EC:6D] ~FC 4@CA@C2E6 9625BF2CE6CD 2C6 😕 sF3=:?[ xC6=2?5] {62C? >@C6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^6IA6C:2?A=4]4@>Qm6IA6C:2?A=4]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAm’:6H D@FC46 G6CD:@? @? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>Qm3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>k^2mik2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?^k^2mk^Am
kAmr~}%pr%i p??:6 #FDD6==k^Am
kAmtIA6C:2?k^Am
kAm` hch egb dacbk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i2??:6]CFDD6==o6IA6C:2?]4@>Qm2??:6]CFDD6==o6IA6C:2?]4@>k^2mk^Am
kAmzt*(~#si rp{xu~#}xp t~!t x#t{p}s &}x%ts $%p%t$ }~#%w p|t#xrpk^Am
kAmx}s&$%#* zt*(~#si $~u%(p#t qp}zx}v }t%(~#z$ x}%t#}t% !#~ut$$x~}p{ $t#’xrt$ sp%p |p}pvt|t}% r~}$&|t# %trw}~{~v* p#%xuxrxp{ x}%t{{xvt}rt $tr%* ~%wt# r~}$&|t# ux}p}rtk^Am
kAm$~rti tIA6C:2?k^Am
kAmr@AJC:89E qFD:?6DD (:C6 a_ae]k^Am
kAm!&qi _`^`b^a_ae _ei__ p|^sx$ri _`^`b^a_ae _ei_a p|k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?Qm9EEAi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ae_“bd_hebh^6?k^2mk^Am
Copyright Business Wire 2026.