Emerging Fraud Trends 2025
- Amligo Team
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 25
Fraud trends in 2025 is operating on an entirely different level than just a few years ago. Gone are the days of simple phishing emails—today’s attackers leverage deepfakes, AI-generated identities, and even fraud-as-a-service models. The most affected group? Companies that think they’re “too small to be noticed.”
Startups and small businesses are especially vulnerable: they often operate digitally, lack mature compliance frameworks, and work with limited staff and budgets. This makes them prime targets for modern fraudsters.
Fraud Is Rising: Data You Can’t Ignore
According to Experian’s 2025 report:
Financial fraud targeting small businesses has increased by 70% since the pandemic
80% of all fraud cases now happen through digital channels
Nearly 50% of business loan applications in the U.S. involved fraudulent data (first-party fraud)
From Trustpair’s 2025 data:
90% of U.S. businesses were targeted by cyber or financial fraud in 2024
47% of those businesses suffered losses exceeding $10 million
Most common attack vectors: invoice fraud, payment redirection, and BEC (business email compromise)
These aren’t hypothetical risks—they’re happening at scale, and they’re hitting smaller, more agile companies the hardest.
AI-Powered Fraud: Deepfakes, Synthetic Identities, and Voice Cloning
Artificial intelligence is transforming fraud as we know it. In 2025, we’re seeing a massive spike in synthetic threats:
According to Sumsub, deepfakes now make up 7% of all global fraud attempts
AI-generated documents and fake IDs are used in over 50% of fraud incidents
Entrust reports a 3,000% increase in deepfake attacks in a single year
Fraud-as-a-Service is now mainstream: anyone can purchase a toolkit of fake identities, documents, and instructions online
AI gives fraudsters scalability and sophistication—enabling them to bypass basic KYC checks and exploit businesses with little resistance.
Synthetic Investment & Crypto Scams
One of the fastest-growing fraud types is the “Pig Butchering” scam—a manipulative blend of romance fraud and fake crypto investments.
This scam now accounts for 33% of all crypto fraud activity
It causes hundreds of millions in losses annually
Scammers build long-term trust while posing as advisors or investors, then convince victims to invest in fake platforms
Crypto-adjacent startups are especially at risk—especially those without robust customer verification processes or fraud detection systems.
The Global Identity Fraud Ecosystem
TechRadar describes a thriving black market for identity fraud, operating much like a startup ecosystem:
Fraudsters can rent access to tools that generate fake IDs, synthetic documents, and even utility bills
“Zombie identities” (made from real and fake personal data) are on the rise
In 2024, U.S. losses due to identity fraud hit $12.5 billion, a 25% YoY increase
Businesses are being targeted directly: with fake employees, forged suppliers, and even fraudulent corporate registrations in their name.
Money Mules & Fraud Recruitment on Social Media
Another growing trend is the use of money mules—people who “rent out” their accounts to launder stolen money.
In the UK alone, over 225,000 money mules were identified in 2024 (a 23% increase from 2023)
Recruitment is happening via social media, freelance platforms, and “easy money from home” ads
Young people and new entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable
Startups can unknowingly become part of a money laundering chain, either by sending funds to fraudsters or onboarding high-risk clients without proper checks.
What This Means for Startups and SMEs
✅ No business is too small to be a target
Fraudsters target companies that lack compliance structures and internal controls—they’re easier to breach and less likely to detect the fraud in time.
✅ Financial and reputational damage can be existential
One fraud incident can lead to frozen accounts, failed due diligence from investors, or broken relationships with financial partners.
✅ Banks and regulators are increasing pressure
Payment providers and banks are tightening onboarding procedures. Companies without AML policies may be denied services or lose access to financial infrastructure.
How Startups Can Protect Themselves (and How You Can Help)
Basic AML checks are no longer enough
Traditional ID verification and static monitoring won’t catch deepfakes, synthetic IDs, or AI-generated documents.
Modern fraud demands modern tools
Today’s best AML tools use AI to:
Perform biometric identity checks
Analyze customer behavior in real time
Detect suspicious transactions through pattern recognition
Score risk levels dynamically
AML service providers like AMLIGO can empower startups to stay safe
We can support you by offering: