INTERPOL and UNODC held the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna on 16–17 March 2026. More than 1,300 representatives from governments, law enforcement, technology companies, financial institutions and civil society attended. The event focused on the growing use of generative AI, deepfake media, automated tools and other technologies that facilitate impersonation and fraud.
During the summit, INTERPOL released the second edition of its Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment. The report states that financial fraud now definitively intersects with organised crime, human trafficking and cybercrime. It identifies AI‑enhanced fraud as 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods and notes the emergence of “agentic AI” systems capable of autonomously planning and executing full fraud campaigns. The report records a 54% increase in fraud‑related INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions since 2024 and states that more than 1,500 transnational fraud cases have been supported in that period, involving USD 1.1 billion in lost assets.
The assessment also reports global expansion of scam centres, including locations where trafficked individuals are compelled to conduct online fraud. In parts of Africa, the report notes that terrorist groups have used fraud schemes, including crypto‑based scams, as a source of funding.
The United Kingdom was a supporting country of the summit. Its role is reflected in the broader set of commitments made by participating states to enhance cooperation, improve information‑sharing and strengthen operational responses to financial fraud.
