Artificial intelligence is accelerating the scale and sophistication of digital fraud, but organizations are increasingly responding with AI-driven security measures of their own, according to new research from global cloud communications provider Infobip.

The company’s 2026 Fraud & Security Report, which analyzes billions of digital interactions worldwide, highlights a rapidly evolving fraud landscape marked by both rising threats and increased investment in adaptive security technologies.

The report found a 77% increase in detected fraudulent activity, as threat actors use AI to automate attacks, personalize malicious messaging, and expand campaigns at greater speed. At the same time, businesses are accelerating their adoption of AI-based defenses, with the use of AI-powered fraud detection increasing 71% year over year.

Traditional security approaches are also evolving. The report identified a 105% increase in pattern-based detection, reflecting a broader shift toward systems that can identify emerging threats through behavioral analysis and machine learning rather than relying solely on predefined rules.

Matija Ražem, Chief Commercial Telecom Officer at Infobip, said: "Fraudsters are using AI to automate and scale campaigns faster than ever, but AI-powered protection is evolving just as fast. The significant growth in AI-driven detection proves that leading organizations are no longer treating security as an afterthought, they are building it directly into their communication infrastructure."

Phishing Remains the Leading Fraud Threat

Phishing continues to represent the largest category of blocked harmful content, accounting for 49% of detected malicious activity. The volume of phishing-related threats increased 94% year over year, highlighting the continued challenge of protecting users across digital communication channels.

The report also found significant growth in the use of network-based security capabilities. Interactions with Network APIs, including SIM Swap detection and Number Verification, increased 91%, with financial services organizations leading adoption as they seek stronger identity verification and fraud prevention capabilities.

Enterprises Strengthen Communication Security

Organizations are increasingly embedding fraud prevention into customer communication workflows rather than treating security as a separate layer.

The findings point to a growing AI-driven security race, with attackers using automation to increase the volume and precision of fraud attempts while enterprises deploy increasingly adaptive tools to detect and prevent threats.

As digital communications continue to expand, organizations will need security strategies that can evolve at the same pace as emerging fraud techniques.

Source: Infobip

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