Fraud Costs Businesses Nearly 8% of Their Equivalent Revenues Globally, TransUnion Reports

Core Insights - Fraud is causing significant financial losses for businesses globally, with an average loss of 7.7% of annual revenue, equating to approximately $534 billion across surveyed companies [1][2] - In the U.S., the average revenue loss due to fraud is reported at 9.8%, a 46% increase from the previous year, amounting to an estimated $114 billion among surveyed leaders [2] Fraud Types and Impact - The predominant types of fraud causing business losses globally include scam/authorized fraud (24%), synthetic identity fraud (20%), and account takeover (20%) [3][4] - In the U.S., account takeover fraud is the most damaging, responsible for 31% of reported fraud losses, followed by synthetic identity fraud at 24% and scam/authorized fraud at 23% [4] Trends in Fraud - Account takeover fraud has seen a significant increase, with a 21% rise in volume from H1 2024 to H1 2025 and a staggering 141% increase from H1 2021 to H1 2025 [5] - The sophistication of fraud tactics is evolving, necessitating businesses to adopt proactive security measures rather than solely reactive defenses [6] Consumer Awareness and Exposure - Globally, 48% of consumers reported being targeted by various fraud schemes, with a concerning 52% unaware of such attempts [7] - In the U.S., 51% of consumers reported being targeted, with phishing and smishing being the most common types of fraud [8] Regional Insights - Countries like India, South Africa, and Guatemala reported the highest percentages of respondents falling victim to fraud in H1 2025, with specific fraud schemes varying by region [10]