NICE Actimize has released its latest findings in the “2025 Fraud Survey: EMEA Financial Fraud Trends and Investment Priorities” report. The report analyses the evolving fraud landscape across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), exploring key fraud typologies, regulatory shifts, and the role of advanced technologies in combating financial crime.
“The European fraud ecosystem is facing increasing pressures. Not only are there new fraud typologies affecting both consumers and financial institutions, but regulatory changes are adding to a complex set of industry guidelines,” said Craig Costigan, CEO of NICE Actimize. “On a positive note, survey respondents from a diverse range of financial institutions believe that technological advancements will help address these challenges in the next 12 to 18 months. NICE Actimize remains committed to investing in key technologies, such as GenAI, to combat fraud and financial crime.”
The growing role of AI & advanced analytics
The report highlights the increasing importance of technology in fraud detection and prevention. In the next 12 to 18 months, network analytics, machine learning, Generative AI (GenAI), and consortium analytics are expected to be game changers.
These technologies can enhance fraud detection, making identifying threats more adaptive and predictive.
Regional differences in fraud impact
Fraud risks vary significantly across the EMEA region. In the UK, 100% of respondents identified scams as a major concern—far exceeding the 64% recorded across the rest of EMEA.
Meanwhile, regulatory shifts such as consumer reimbursement obligations and the fraud liability shift are expected to reshape fraud prevention policies, placing greater responsibility on financial institutions to safeguard customers.
EMEA’s fraud landscape
The report emphasises that no single fraud type dominates the landscape—meaning financial institutions must remain vigilant against multiple attack methods. In addition, social engineering scams are the most pressing concern, with 68% of respondents ranking them as a leading fraud.
Account takeover fraud follows closely behind, affecting 66% of institutions surveyed. Phishing has also remained a major issue, with 72% identifying it as a growing threat. Furthermore, money mule activity (61%) and identity theft (54%) are the most impactful forms of first-party fraud.
The rising sophistication of fraud
Due to rapid technological evolution, long-standing fraud tactics, including phishing and bot attacks (66%), are becoming more advanced. Additionally, fraudsters leverage AI-driven tools to enhance their schemes, making detection increasingly complex.
A key challenge in tackling scams is the growing number of “complicit” victims who knowingly or unknowingly aid in fraudulent activities. This factor makes certain fraud types, like mule accounts and social engineering scams, challenging to counter even after detection.