INTERPOL’s Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment 2026 warns of a surging fraud crisis with AI scams 4.5× more profitable, $442B lost in 2025, Notices up 54%, and $1.1B recovered across 1500+ cases

Criminal networks are expanding globally, working with specialised money-laundering groups and even terrorist organisations in some regions, while scam centres—often involving trafficked victims—have spread worldwide. The assessment also notes improving law enforcement response, with a 54% increase in INTERPOL Notices and support for over 1,500 cases recovering USD 1.1 billion, but stresses that fraud’s growing scale, complexity, and links to cybercrime and human trafficking demand stronger international cooperation and more adaptive financial crime controls…