2026 BioCatch Global Scams Report
BioCatch | Based on data from more than 370 financial institutions, the 2026 Global Scams report focuses on the continued growth of the scam industry and different ways behavioral cues may help financial institutions intervene to protect their customers.
Key stats based on data from BioCatch customers:
35% increase in scams reported by BioCatch customers in 2026
$6,600 average case value for investment scams
258% increase in victims of employment scams, more than triple the previous year
23% increase in romance scam attempts, a decrease compared to 2025’s 65% growth rate
90% of all reported scam attempts took place on mobile devices
Operation Shamrock’s Erin West contributes an essay with an important message: “This ecosystem doesn’t rely on crypto.”
Stop treating sophistication as the measure of risk. — Erin West
Much of the money moves through the same payment systems banks already monitor every day. Scammers take money in any form they can get it. Gift cards, wire transfers, Venmo, Cash App, and so on. There is nothing exotic about it. Fraud strategies centered on crypto may miss the channels the scammers are using.
The report includes a readout of data from BioCatch’s financial customers, broken down by region, and discusses how banks can use behavioral signals to detect when a customer may be under psychological influence or coercion by a scammer.
In an outline of five stages of a financial transaction, BioCatch identifies opportunities for financial institutions to intervene proactively and engage with the victim.
Financial institutions cannot stop that first contact. But they have visibility into much of what happens next. — Erin West
Download the report: 2026 Global Scams: Using behavioral and device intelligence to shine a light on social engineering scams across the world.
