US Firms Grapple with Soaring Payments Fraud as AI Adoption Lags

Event summary

  • Over 75% of US firms experienced payments fraud in 2025, a persistent and growing problem.
  • Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased to 74% of organizations in 2025, up from previous years.
  • Only 17% of organizations are currently leveraging AI for fraud mitigation.
  • Checks remain a primary target, with 58% of organizations reporting fraud attempts, despite 72% planning to continue using them.
  • Organizations using AI for fraud mitigation reported improvements in fraud reporting efficiency, deepfake detection, and real-time identification.

The big picture

The AFP survey underscores a critical disconnect: while technological solutions like AI demonstrably improve fraud detection, widespread adoption remains low, leaving US businesses vulnerable. This is compounded by the persistence of legacy payment methods like checks, which are increasingly targeted by sophisticated fraud schemes. The rising prevalence of BEC attacks, coupled with the treasury department's critical role, suggests a systemic issue requiring a holistic approach to fraud prevention, encompassing technology, process, and personnel.

What we're watching

Vendor Dependence
The continued reliance on checks due to vendor requirements creates a significant vulnerability, potentially hindering modernization efforts and increasing fraud risk. Expect pressure on vendors to adopt more secure payment methods to reduce their clients' exposure.
AI Integration
The slow adoption of AI for fraud mitigation suggests a need for clearer ROI demonstrations and simplified implementation strategies. The gap between AI's proven effectiveness and its actual deployment will likely widen the fraud exposure for laggard organizations.
Treasury Role
The treasury department's central role in fraud detection and recovery highlights the need for increased investment in treasury technology and training. Expect treasury functions to expand their remit and influence within organizations.

Related topics

Financial Services