AU10TIX, a global technology leader in identity verification and management, today released its Q3 2023 Global Identity Fraud Report. Drawing insights from millions of transactions processed across 249 countries from July to September 2023, the report uncovers significant trends in the world of organized identity fraud. Most notably, AU10TIX detected that professional fraud rings have shifted their focus from crypto to the payments sector. Digital payments saw an alarming 56% increase in fraud while the crypto industry, traditionally a sandbox for fraudsters, experienced an unusual 51% drop. 

AU10TIX attributes these developments to the June introduction of the EU Market in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This legislation will end the ‘wild west’ era of crypto in the EU by introducing a new regulatory framework designed to protect investors and consumers. 

Although the new regulations initially target the EU and will not take effect until 2024, many organizations and regions are proactively adopting stricter KYC guidelines to align with the legislation. This is making it more difficult for professional crime organizations to commit fraud in the crypto sector, so they are funneling their efforts into the less regulated sector of payments. 

Among the sectors scrutinized in Q3, the payments sector was the industry most highly targeted by organized fraud groups, responsible for 51% of all financial fraud attacks -- a significant increase from 32% in Q2. In contrast, the crypto industry was responsible for only 23% of attacks, down from 47% in Q2. These findings underscore a clear correlation between regulatory frameworks and the prevalence of fraud.

North America saw the highest volume of payment sector attacks of all regions studied. AU10TIX attributes this to fraudsters continuing to capitalize on the economic recovery and increased spending. APAC was the second most targeted region, which AU10TIX ascribes to rising digital transaction complexity (involving diverse economies and cross-border payments) presenting challenges for identity verification and creating loopholes for fraudsters. 

AU10TIX’s report also compares the frequency of different fraud modes, including document number, personal data, face picture, image template, and facial image capture (selfie). Across all regions, fraud involving selfie capture represented less than 5% of attacks, indicating that fraudsters find this verification method difficult to circumvent. Gartner also notes that facial image capture is a "must-have" for identity verification vendors.

“The unpleasant truth is that publicly available statistics regarding identity fraud refer only to the attacks that traditional IDV solutions can detect,” said Dan Yerushalmi, CEO of AU10TIX. “The actual fraud rate is likely three to 10 times higher, because today’s sophisticated attacks are committed by organized crime groups using AI, deep fakes and other technology to create false IDs nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. The financial well-being and reputation of a business may be severely impacted by the rise of sophisticated identity fraud. Our commitment at AU10TIX is unwavering—to contribute to the global reduction of identity fraud and make the world a better place."

The significant surge in payment sector attacks, particularly in North America, highlights the urgent need for robust legislative measures to safeguard consumers from fraudulent activities. Regulatory bodies in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region must proactively create legislation that bolsters consumer protection in the payments industry.

In the absence of stringent regulations, payment providers must elevate their KYC practices to fortify defenses against escalating fraud risks. AU10TIX remains committed to fostering a secure and resilient financial ecosystem and invites stakeholders to collaborate in this critical endeavor.