A new Cybercrime Report from LexisNexis provides a detailed view of how global fraud patterns are shifting. The report analyses more than 104 billion digital transactions and highlights a clear trend. Fraud is becoming more automated, more complex, and more closely tied to the rapid expansion of mobile and online payments.
Full report link: LexisNexis® Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report
First Party Fraud Is Rising Sharply
One of the most significant findings is the increase in first-party fraud. These cases involve legitimate account holders intentionally misusing financial products or services. This may include bonus abuse, deliberate chargebacks, or false disputes.
According to the report, first-party fraud now accounts for 36% of detected attacks. Last year, the figure was 15%. When bonus abuse and first-party chargeback activity are included, the impact increases to 42%. This reflects a broader shift in user behaviour as digital platforms expand and onboarding becomes faster and more accessible.
Mobile Channels Present Higher Risk
Mobile continues to dominate how people access financial services. This shift comes with new vulnerabilities.
The report identifies that one in eleven new account creations is fraudulent, with mobile apps being a key target. Mobile browsers carry even more risk and are nearly five times riskier than mobile apps. The weaker device signals associated with mobile browsers make it easier for fraudsters to hide fraudulent behaviour.
This trend illustrates the need for strong device-level security, improved onboarding checks, and user education about secure mobile practices.
Money Mules Are Becoming Central to Fraud Networks
The role of the money mule is expanding. These individuals receive and move funds on behalf of fraudsters, often across several financial institutions.
The report reveals that mule-related transactions recorded in the Digital Identity Network in the United Kingdom increased by 65% year on year. Citing data from the UK Banking Consortium, the report notes that more than 130 million pounds flowed through mule networks. Mules used an average of 3.4 banks per network to move funds. This makes detection and intervention increasingly difficult for financial institutions and law enforcement.
Strong Regional Differences in Fraud Patterns
The report highlights how fraud looks different across major regions.
- APAC: Fraud is dominated by third-party account takeover. Human-initiated attacks increased by 61 percent and automated attacks by 6%. Japan reported increases in romance scams, investment scams, and phone-based social engineering. Hong Kong recorded the highest per capita fraud losses. In Singapore, 86% of police reported scams involved authorised payment scams. The report also notes that parts of the scam industry in APAC employ large numbers of people, including some in forced labour conditions.
- EMEA and North America: First-party fraud is more prevalent. These regions have strong e-commerce and financial services adoption, which creates opportunities for refund abuse, chargebacks, and incentive misuse.
Understanding these differences helps regulators and financial institutions respond with region-specific strategies.
Account Takeover Attempts Continue to Increase
As digital payments expand, attackers are focusing on gaining access to existing accounts.
The report highlights a surge in password reset attacks. In North America, these attacks increased by 90% to reach 2.7%. APAC saw a 66% rise to 1.3%. These attempts allow attackers to control stored funds and payment methods.
EMEA recorded a 70% decline to 0.8%. This reflects a strong preference among fraudsters for authorised scams that do not require direct account access.
What This Means for Consumers and Institutions
The findings illustrate a global shift. Fraudsters are using AI tools to scale operations, test stolen credentials, and impersonate customers with greater accuracy.
For consumers, the message is clear. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and caution when responding to unexpected messages remain essential.
For financial institutions, investments in identity intelligence, device risk assessment, and behavioural analytics are becoming critical. Fraud is evolving quickly and requires prevention approaches that can adapt at the same pace.
