AI Alters the Landscape of Fraud Detection
As International Fraud Awareness Week 2025 marks its 25th anniversary, anti-fraud professionals are sounding the alarm on the escalating threats posed by artificial intelligence. A new survey conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and analytics leader SAS reveals that AI-driven deception is surging at an unprecedented rate. According to the findings, 77% of professionals have witnessed a rise in deepfake social engineering over the past two years, and 83% expect these tactics to grow moderately or significantly in the next two years.
“AI has become both a powerful ally and a daunting threat,” said John Gill, JD, President of the ACFE. “Our best defense is awareness. Equipping professionals, governments, and the public with the knowledge to recognize and counter AI-driven fraud is critical to preserving trust.”
In response, the ACFE and SAS are offering an educational webinar titled Agentic AI in Action: Intelligent, Adaptive Fraud and Financial Crime Prevention on November 17. The session aims to arm participants with insights into combating emerging fraud tactics fueled by artificial intelligence.
AI-Driven Fraud Expands Across Industries
From banking to public services, fraud tactics are growing in scale and sophistication, demanding equally advanced countermeasures. SAS offers industry-specific insights into how AI is being used both offensively and defensively in fraud scenarios.
In the banking sector, rapid AI evolution has enabled financial institutions to improve fraud detection while reducing false alerts. A recent report, The Future of Trust, highlights how one bank reduced alerts by 40% and improved detection rates by 35% using AI-powered analytics.
Public sector agencies are also embracing AI to safeguard government programs. Through the Public Sector Fraud-Fighting Maturity Assessment, SAS helps agencies benchmark their capabilities and identify areas for improvement. From digital identity verification to real-time transaction monitoring, public institutions are enhancing their defenses against increasingly complex AI-driven schemes.
BankID Reinvents Identity Authentication in Norway
BankID, Norway’s national digital identity service, processes nearly a billion transactions annually across government and private sectors. To counter sophisticated AI threats, BankID has integrated real-time fraud scoring from SAS, using behavioral data such as login patterns and device metadata.
“We’ve shifted from reacting to fraud to anticipating it,” said David Sæle, Product Manager for BankID Anti-Fraud. “By combining high-trust identity signals with AI-driven analytics, we ensure faster and more accurate risk assessments, reducing false positives and increasing national trust in our systems.”
Ajman Bank Elevates Fraud Detection in the UAE
In the United Arab Emirates, Ajman Bank has partnered with SAS and DataScience Middle East to strengthen its fraud detection capabilities. The bank uses real-time analytics to monitor transactions across various channels, allowing investigators to focus on high-risk activities.
“Our collaboration with SAS reflects our dedication to securing customer trust through advanced technology,” said Abhishek Sharma, Chief Risk Officer at Ajman Bank. “Machine learning models help us assess risk with greater precision while reducing false positives, enhancing both efficiency and customer confidence.”
DB Insurance Uncovers Fraud Networks in South Korea
South Korea’s DB Insurance has taken a groundbreaking step in fraud detection by creating the nation’s first AI-powered fraud network analysis system. Using SAS Viya, the insurer consolidated decades of customer and claims data to uncover hidden relationships and fraudulent patterns.
As a result, detection accuracy improved by 99%, and case analysis time dropped dramatically. “Within minutes, we could detect fraudulent connections that were previously invisible,” said a senior claims official. “This shift has enabled us to move from merely responding to fraud to proactively preventing it.”
Strengthening SNAP Program Integrity in the U.S.
Since 2019, a southern U.S. state has worked with SAS to enhance the integrity of its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Initially focused on workflow automation, the collaboration evolved to include machine learning models that risk-score overpayment referrals and flag high-risk cases for investigation.
Thanks to these advancements, the processing time for investigations has been halved. “This innovation has been crucial,” said a senior state official. “With limited resources, we’ve significantly improved our oversight and responsiveness.”
Looking Ahead: Building Resilience Against AI Fraud
As AI continues to evolve, so too will the tactics of fraudsters. The ACFE and SAS stress the importance of continuous education, cross-industry collaboration, and investment in cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead of these evolving threats.
Throughout International Fraud Awareness Week 2025, experts from SAS and the global anti-fraud community will share practical insights, use cases, and research highlights via the #FraudWeek campaign on LinkedIn and other platforms.
“AI is redefining the boundaries between truth and deception,” said Stu Bradley, Senior Vice President of Risk, Fraud and Compliance Solutions at SAS. “As fewer than 10% of anti-fraud professionals feel prepared, it’s imperative that we act swiftly and collaboratively.”
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