2025 will be a watershed year when it comes to fighting fraud

As we look ahead to 2025, it’s hard not to reflect on how far we’ve come — and how far we still need to go — in the world of fraud prevention. Over the last few years, we’ve felt mounting pressure: financial institutions enhancing their defenses, regulators demanding more accountability and consumers growing savvier (though they remain vulnerable) as fraudsters keep reinventing their playbooks.

In 2025, we’ll reach a turning point. Emerging technologies, tighter regulations and unprecedented collaboration between industries are setting the stage for a more secure and equitable financial future. This is the year our global fight against financial crime evolves to meet the scale and sophistication of modern threats.

“Failure to prevent” initiatives, collaboration, good vs. bad artificial intelligence, better staff training and tightened controls on digital currencies will be key trends to watch in 2025. More than ever, staying ahead in this battle isn’t just about fresh tech or tougher regulations. It’s about the people at the heart of every transaction — protecting them, building trust and helping entire communities thrive.

We’ll see failure to prevent fraud initiatives and victim-focused reimbursement rules placing heavier burdens on financial institutions. The U.K. is a prime mover here, setting standards that will likely echo around the globe. Financial leaders, facing heightened scrutiny, can’t just pay lip service to security; they’ll need to show their work. This translates to more robust technologies, well-trained teams and stronger oversight across the board. The ripple effect goes beyond the boardroom. This raised bar means cutting off illicit funding streams to criminal enterprises, striking at the heart of human trafficking and drug-related crimes. Institutions aren’t just protecting their reputations — they’re helping restore confidence in financial systems and, in doing so, making the world a bit safer.

In the past, many efforts to combat fraud have been scattered and siloed. But in the upcoming year, true collaboration takes off. Projects like the FIRE pilot — where banks and tech companies share intelligence — show the power of uniting under one mission. We will also see the network effect bringing value as payment providers around the world recognize their unique perspective of the data they hold.

By aligning strategies and data, organizations can prevent suspicious activity upstream before it turns into transactional fraud. This harmony pays dividends in real-world outcomes: Customers see more consistent safeguards across services, and the industry as a whole can elevate standards while staying nimble. As cooperation replaces competition in the fight against crime, we open doors to smarter detection and a healthier financial ecosystem for everyone.

If 2024 was the year we learned how AI can supercharge both our defenses and the fraudsters’ offenses, 2025 is when we put that knowledge into practice. Artificial intelligence might create deepfakes and voice clones that fool the unsuspecting, and it can churn out synthetic identities at scale. However, it can also become a powerful ally: helping investigators identify patterns in oceans of data, shining light on anomalies before they become crises and speeding up the time to value analytical responses. 

Soon we’ll see financial institutions move generative AI tools from proof of concept into full-scale production environments. These institutions will rely on advanced AI capabilities to optimize operations, bolster security controls and respond to fraud threats with unprecedented agility. The upcoming year promises not just incremental improvements, but a transformative leap toward a more intelligent and proactive approach to fraud prevention. 

One of the toughest battles is against scams where the victim, under psychological pressure, pushes through fraudulent transactions — even as security teams try to intervene. In 2025, we’ll see financial institutions invest in more nuanced training for their staff and deploy advanced tools, including AI-driven assistance, to break these “spells.” Banks can lighten these crimes’ emotional toll on individuals and communities by helping front-line teams navigate complex human behaviors and empowering customers to recognize warning signs. The result is a more resilient defense system that doesn’t just rely on stopping bad actors but also on fostering confidence and clear thinking in the very people those criminals hope to ensnare.

The resurgence of interest in digital currencies — sparked by bitcoin’s price recovery and the exploration of projects like the digital euro — will push banks and neobanks to reassess their risk strategies. For traditional financial institutions, it’s a moment to consider whether a blanket ban on crypto-bound transactions still makes sense. For newer, more agile neobanks already weaving these offerings into their core services, 2025 will mean tightening controls and reevaluating how best to mitigate money mule activities. It’s a delicate balancing act: meeting consumer demand, exploring innovative technologies and doing so responsibly. Done right, managing digital currencies can lead to stronger fraud defenses and more confident, forward-looking financial brands.

While these trends are driven by new policies, cutting-edge AI and global partnerships, the heart of the matter is the human experience. In 2025, financial institutions and their partners have the chance to create systems that don’t just catch fraud but actively deter it — reducing harm, restoring trust and ultimately helping communities feel safer in an increasingly digital world. The year ahead is about turning insight into action and ensuring that every advancement in technology and regulation serves the people at the end of every transaction. This isn’t just an industry priority; it’s a societal milestone. Together, we can make it count.