AI-Powered Fraud Expected to Surge in 2026, Experian Warns of Deepfakes, Bots, and New Threats
Fraud losses from artificial intelligence-driven scams are projected to increase sharply in 2026, according to Experian’s latest fraud forecast. With AI factors such as autonomous bots, deepfake job candidates, and smarter phishing attacks emerging as major threats, both businesses and consumers are being urged to prepare for a more sophisticated fraud landscape.
Quick Insight:
Experian has identified a critical “tipping point” in the evolution of fraud where AI-enabled attacks will become harder to detect, more autonomous, and more damaging — pushing companies to rethink how they differentiate between legitimate automation and malicious activity.
AI-Driven Bots and E-Commerce Chaos
• One of the biggest risks comes from “machine-to-machine” interactions in e-commerce, where autonomous AI tools perform tasks like shopping or browsing.
• Cybercriminals are learning to blend benign AI bots with malicious ones, making fraud harder to spot and stop.
• This dynamic makes it difficult for companies to determine whether a transaction was authorized by a real user or an AI script designed to defraud.
Deepfakes and Employment Fraud
• Deepfake technology is expected to play a growing role in fraudulent hiring, with hyper-realistic fake candidates potentially passing interviews and gaining access to internal systems.
• As deepfake capabilities improve, companies may inadvertently hire individuals who aren’t who they claim to be, creating new security vulnerabilities.
• This trend underscores the need for stronger identity verification measures during the recruitment process.
New Threats on the Horizon
• **Smart home devices** — including virtual assistants, locks, and security systems — could introduce new entry points for fraudsters to access personal data or control connected devices.
• **Website cloning** is rising as AI tools make it easier to replicate legitimate sites for phishing, trapping consumers into sharing passwords or financial information.
• **Emotionally intelligent bots** capable of building trust over time may carry out sophisticated romance scams, family-in-need scams, and other high-impact attacks without direct human control.
Impact on Businesses and Consumers
• Last year, consumers lost **billions of dollars to fraud**, and businesses reported rising losses even as total incident numbers held steady — indicating scams are becoming more effective.
• Many business leaders see AI-driven fraud and deepfakes as top operational challenges this year, prompting discussions about regulation, liability, and the role of AI governance.
• Companies are increasingly investing in fraud prevention technologies that incorporate AI and advanced analytics to detect suspicious behavior before it results in loss.
Final Thoughts
Experian’s 2026 fraud forecast highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital crime: as artificial intelligence becomes more capable, so too will the threats that exploit it. From autonomous bots and deepfake candidates to cloned websites and smart device vulnerabilities, fraud in 2026 will demand smarter defenses, tighter verification processes, and a proactive approach by both businesses and consumers to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated scams.
