As we begin 2026, one thing is clear: criminal networks are evolving faster than ever, and the global payments ecosystem must move even faster. At Axios Live’s The Scam Economy: Tech, Theft and the Future of Retail event in Washington, D.C. last month, I spoke about how the rapid growth of digital commerce, the proliferation of low cost criminal tools, and the rise of AI driven identity attacks are reshaping how we protect consumers, merchants, and the entire payments value chain.
Visa sits at the crossroads of global commerce, connecting buyers and sellers safely. That position gives us unique visibility into how threats are changing and where the ecosystem must focus. Fraudsters are moving quickly, targeting consumer behavior, exploiting new technologies, and scaling scams that once took months to build. As we look across 2026, six major trends stand out, and each requires speed, coordination and intelligence to address.
