In the two years since Nasdaq Verafin’s inaugural Global Financial Crime Report, the scope and sophistication of financial crime have escalated dramatically — demanding a collective response equal to the threat.
In the two years since Nasdaq Verafin’s inaugural Global Financial Crime Report, the scope and sophistication of financial crime have escalated dramatically — demanding a collective response equal to the threat.
In 2025, there was an estimated
$4.4 trillion
in illicit financial activity globally.
Increasing $1.3 trillion in just two years.
Driven by interconnected criminal activities, including:
in drug trafficking activity
in human trafficking
in terrorist financing
Growth represents compound annual growth rate from 2023-2025
Global losses to fraud scams and bank fraud schemes totalled
$579.4 billion
in losses from Bank Fraud
in losses from Fraud Scams
Growth represents compound annual growth rate from 2023-2025
Artificial Intelligence
While AI-enabled crime is growing, advancements in AI technology also present an opportunity to not only fight back, but to get ahead in the fight against financial crime.
90% of financial professionals surveyed noted an increase in AI-driven attacks over the past two years.
75% of financial institutions plan to increase their use of AI for financial crime detection.
The world’s largest banks plan to increase AI investment by 20% over the next year.
“In the wrong hands, AI is an accelerant for criminal activity, but in the hands of financial crime-fighters, it can be a true force for good.”
Stephanie Champion
EVP & Head of Nasdaq Verafin, Financial Crime Management Technology, Nasdaq
Spotlights
Organizations around the world are driving the future of financial crime prevention through collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action.
The Convergence of Fraud and Human Trafficking
“Technology is today’s most powerful tool — we must use it to strengthen our response and protect victims.”
Dr. Kari Johnstone
OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
Global Collaboration Against Scams
“Scammers are using AI the same way legitimate businesses do — to work faster, cheaper, and at scale.”
Jorij Abraham
Managing Director of GASA
Australia Builds a Network to Fight Scams
“If you detect something after it’s happened, the criminality is already occurring.”
Chris Sheehan
Executive Lead for Investigations at National Australia Bank (NAB)
Industry Trends, Challenges & Opportunities
The Nasdaq Global Financial Crime Report brings forward industry insights from:
Over 500 industry professionals surveyed globally.
Interviews with senior anti-financial crime executives.
Financial Crime Posing Greatest Risk to Customers
Financial institutions identified several significant challenges in the next 5 years.
Challenges of Greatest Concern in the Next 5 Years
By acting together, across borders and industries, we can shift the balance of power away from criminals, protect individuals and communities, and preserve trust in the global financial system.
Advanced AI-Led Defenses
Financial institutions increasingly view AI not as an emerging capability, but as a core requirement for detecting faster, more complex, and more interconnected financial crime.
Collective Intelligence to Disrupt Crime
Stronger private-to-private and public-to-private collaboration, supported by shared intelligence and network-level insights, are critical to disrupting criminal ecosystems.
Shared Responsibility for Effective Action
Clearer regulatory guidance, shared benchmarks for effectiveness, and coordinated action across sectors are essential for turning investment and innovation into meaningful outcomes.
A Call for
Collective Action
Financial crime has become faster, more interconnected, and more technologically enabled than ever before — demanding a response that matches its scale and sophistication.
Advance Financial Crime Defenses at Scale
by harnessing next-generation AI and network-level intelligence to detect and disrupt crime earlier in its lifecycle.
Work Together to Disrupt Financial Crime
by strengthening collaboration and intelligence sharing across financial institutions, regulators, law enforcement, and adjacent industries to dismantle criminal ecosystems.
Our Commitment
Nasdaq Verafin is deeply committed to combating financial crime across globe and strongly believes that progress in this fight depends on embracing technology, strengthening collaboration, and staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
In support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) objective to improve coordinated global efforts against fraud, Nasdaq Verafin is pledging to host a series of convenings of private sector leaders — across the banking industry and beyond — to advance meaningful dialogue on the most critical areas for collective action.
