New Delhi | Global payments giant Visa has revealed that it has identified approximately ₹22,300 crore in suspected scam and fraud activity linked to organised criminal networks operating across international markets. The findings, announced by the company’s Visa Scam Disruption (VSD) unit, underscore the growing scale and sophistication of cyber-enabled financial crime as fraudsters increasingly exploit digital platforms, social media, and online payment systems to target consumers worldwide.
Launched just over two years ago, the Visa Scam Disruption team was established to identify and stop scams before they cause financial harm to consumers. Since its formation, the unit has become a key part of Visa’s fraud prevention strategy, using artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and intelligence gathered from the company’s global payments network to detect suspicious activity and uncover organised criminal operations.
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According to Visa, the team has identified an additional ₹13,700 crore in suspected scam activity since October 2025 alone, highlighting the rapid expansion of online fraud schemes and the increasingly global nature of cybercrime. The company said the latest figures reflect both the scale of the threat and the effectiveness of technology-driven efforts to disrupt fraud at its source.
Cybercriminals today are deploying a wide range of tactics that go far beyond traditional phishing emails and fake phone calls. Fraud networks are increasingly using social media advertisements, fake e-commerce websites, deceptive subscription services, bogus investment opportunities and sophisticated social engineering techniques to trick victims into sharing personal and financial information. These scams often rely on attractive offers, urgent messages and manipulated trust to convince users to make payments or provide sensitive data.
Visa said its VSD team combines the expertise of data scientists, engineers, AI developers and cybersecurity specialists with professionals who have backgrounds in law enforcement and military intelligence. By analysing vast amounts of network-level transaction data, investigators are able to identify patterns, connect seemingly unrelated activities and expose wider criminal ecosystems operating across borders.
The company reported that during the second half of 2025, the VSD team identified 22% more scam activity than during the same period a year earlier. This increase reflects not only the growing volume of fraud attempts but also improvements in the company’s ability to detect and investigate emerging threats before they cause widespread damage.
One of the most significant cases uncovered by Visa involved a large European “survey scam” operation that targeted consumers through social media platforms. Fraudsters promoted products such as beauty boxes, digital cameras and toolkits at heavily discounted prices to attract victims. While customers believed they were making a one-time purchase, many were unknowingly enrolled in expensive recurring subscription programmes that continued charging their accounts.
Following a detailed investigation, Visa identified approximately 1,000 merchants linked to the operation through 21 European acquiring institutions. Working alongside financial partners and other stakeholders, the company helped dismantle the network, which had generated nearly ₹850 crore through fraudulent activity.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organised cybercriminal groups increasingly rely on social engineering techniques that exploit human emotions such as trust, fear, greed and urgency. He noted that fraudsters are becoming more skilled at creating convincing digital experiences that appear legitimate, making it harder for consumers to recognise threats.
“Cybercriminals no longer depend solely on technical attacks. They manipulate human behaviour and exploit psychological triggers to gain access to money and sensitive information. Consumers should verify every online offer, subscription request and payment instruction before proceeding,” he said.
Industry experts believe the growing adoption of digital payments, e-commerce and online financial services will continue to create opportunities for cybercriminals. As fraud operations become more organised and international in scope, experts say that artificial intelligence, real-time intelligence sharing and close collaboration between financial institutions, technology companies and law enforcement agencies will be essential in protecting consumers and maintaining trust in the digital economy.
Visa’s latest findings provide a stark reminder of the scale of the global cyber fraud challenge and the importance of proactive, technology-driven fraud prevention. With scam networks constantly evolving, industry leaders warn that vigilance, innovation and cross-border cooperation will remain critical in the fight against organised cybercrime.
