Financial Leaders Reported Surge in AI-Enabled Fraud
A survey of 230 senior leaders found that 81% of companies faced attempted AI-related fraud in the past year.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Financial Crime
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In an August 2026 survey of 230 senior financial leaders, 81% of respondents reported that their companies faced attempted AI-enabled fraud within the last year. Most participants expressed significant concern regarding how these advanced tactics threaten organizational trust.
Why it matters
The rise of sophisticated scams using artificial intelligence is forcing organizations to reevaluate their security postures and partnerships. Financial leaders are increasingly prioritizing enhanced fraud detection capabilities to mitigate risks such as payment diversion and deepfake impersonations.
Of the leaders surveyed, 84% stated that AI-enabled fraud is harder to detect than traditional methods, with 43% identifying payment diversion as their primary concern. While 87% believe they are prepared, the investigation into specific recovery outcomes remains ongoing.
The players
Certos
Certos is a brand launched by Early Warning Services in April 2026 to address financial fraud risks.
Early Warning Services
Early Warning Services is a financial services company that operates the Zelle payment network and launched the Certos brand.
The details
The survey, conducted by Certos between August 7 and August 21, 2026, gathered data from 79 Fortune 500 companies, 127 venture-backed firms, and 24 charitable organizations. Nearly all respondents, 93%, indicated that the risk of AI-enabled fraud is causing them to rethink their relationships with financial institution partners.
Timeline
April 2026: Early Warning Services launched the Certos brand.
August 7-21, 2026: Certos conducted the online survey of 230 financial leaders.
Last 12 months: 81% of surveyed companies experienced attempted AI-related fraud.
Legal Context
This survey reflects a broader shift toward heightened corporate vigilance in response to the rise of AI-enabled social engineering and payment fraud as tracked by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. The findings mirror a national trend where organizations are moving beyond legacy security protocols to address the sophistication of modern digital scams.
The widespread attempt at AI-related fraud suggests that businesses may soon implement stricter identity verification and payment authorization steps for clients and vendors. Customers should remain alert for potential communication changes when conducting financial transactions with their service providers.
The takeaway
Organizations are increasingly wary of AI-based scams and are actively shifting their trust toward financial partners who offer superior suspicious activity detection. Leaders should prioritize robust internal training to help teams recognize the signs of executive deepfake impersonations and diversion attempts.
Further reading
For more context on how companies are addressing modern threats, explore the latest trends in Financial Crime.
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Do you feel less confident in your bank's ability to protect your money from digital fraud?
