AI-driven threats outpace defences as governance gaps and rising complexity expose enterprises worldwide
Organisations across the globe are struggling to keep pace with the rapid rise of AI-powered fraud, with only 7% reporting they are fully prepared to detect or prevent such threats, according to a new joint study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and SAS.
The 2026 Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report, based on a survey of 713 professionals worldwide, highlights a widening gap between the sophistication of fraudsters and the readiness of enterprises. As AI tools become cheaper and more accessible, criminals are leveraging them to scale attacks such as deepfake-enabled social engineering, digital forgery, and consumer scams.
“The data paints a worrisome picture: fraud is evolving faster than most organizations can defend against it. AI-powered threats aren’t on the horizon they’re already here, and they’re accelerating quickly. Organizations that don’t strengthen their defenses risk becoming bigger targets,” said John Gill, President of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Deepfake fraud has emerged as one of the fastest-growing threats, with 77% of respondents reporting an increase in such incidents over the past two years. Consumer scams and generative AI-based document forgery followed closely, each cited by 75% of respondents, while 72% pointed to rising cases of deepfake digital injection. Looking ahead, more than half expect these threats to intensify significantly over the next two years.
Despite this surge, adoption of AI and machine learning in fraud prevention remains limited. Only 25% of organisations currently use AI/ML tools, though another 28% plan to adopt them by 2028. Even among adopters, governance remains a major concern. While 86% of respondents consider accuracy critical, just 18% test their AI models for bias or fairness, and only 6% express full confidence in explaining how these systems make decisions.
Abed Hamandi, Senior Director, EMEA Consulting, Fraud and Security Intelligence Practice at SAS. “By embracing real-time, AI-driven and identity-centric approaches, they can stop fraud before it happens while delivering seamless customer experiences.”
Budget constraints continue to slow progress, even as investment rises. More than half of organisations plan to increase spending on anti-fraud technologies, yet 84% still cite financial limitations as a key barrier.
Regional dynamics, however, present opportunities. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are seen as well-positioned to lead next-generation fraud prevention, supported by strong regulatory frameworks and digital transformation initiatives.
“Few regions combine high growth with such strong regulatory leadership,” said Abed Hamandi, Senior Director, EMEA Consulting, Fraud and Security Intelligence Practice at SAS. “By embracing real-time, AI-driven and identity-centric approaches, they can stop fraud before it happens while delivering seamless customer experiences.”
As emerging technologies such as generative AI, biometrics, and even quantum computing reshape the fraud landscape, the report warns that organisations can no longer afford to delay adoption. The race between attackers and defenders is accelerating and for many, the gap is widening.
