Global Anti-Scam Summit America 2026: More than 90 speakers from UNODC, the FBI, Bank of America, JPMorganChase, AT&T, Google, OpenAI, Meta and other leading organisations will gather at Pier 48 on 2–3 September. [Learn More | View Agenda | Register Now – 10% Off|Attend Virtually – FREE]
Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026: Explore scam compounds, AI, illicit money flows and cross-sector action. Secure your early bird ticket or sign up to watch the keynote sessions live for free. [View Agenda | Register Now – 30% Off | Attend Virtually – FREE]
Participants from UNODC, the FBI, Bank of America, JPMorganChase, AT&T, Google, OpenAI, Meta and many other organisations will explore AI, cross-border enforcement, intelligence sharing, consumer protection and the disruption of illicit financial flows.
Can’t join us in San Francisco? Free virtual registration is available for the keynote sessions.
Those attending in person are invited to join us for welcome drinks at the Gotham Club in Oracle Park on the 1st of September, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. PT.
The informal reception offers an opportunity to meet fellow participants and connect with members of the GASA community before the main program opens.
More details will be shared directly with registered participants.
Eight initiatives have been shortlisted across four categories: awareness and education, investigation and research, cross-sector collaboration and technological solutions.
The nominated work ranges from real-time scam warnings and public education to research into forced scamming and sextortion, payment intelligence, malicious infrastructure disruption and deepfake detection.
Winners will be selected through audience voting and evaluation by an independent jury during the Global Anti-Scam Summit America 2026.
The programme opens with findings from the State of Scams in Asia 2026 report before examining regional law enforcement, the scam compound crisis and the experiences of people affected by scams.
Breakout sessions will examine how technology and AI can strengthen digital safety, how financial institutions and cryptocurrency platforms can disrupt scam payments and illicit money flows and how telecommunications providers, governments and businesses can work together more effectively.
Early bird registration is available with a 30% discount. Those unable to attend in Bangkok can register free to join the keynote sessions via live stream.
New Africa Report Estimates $11.68 Billion Lost to Scams
The new State of Scams in Africa 2026 report finds that 82% of adults surveyed encountered a scam during the past year, while 21% lost money or data that resulted in financial loss.
Across Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, an estimated $11.68 billion was lost to scams over 12 months. Among those who lost money, 76% reported an impact on
their mental wellbeing and more than half experienced repeat victimisation.
The findings are based on responses from 4,830 adults across the four countries.
75% of People in Taiwan Encountered Scams in the Past Year
The 2026 Asia Scam Report – Taiwan, released by GASA and Whoscall, finds that three in four respondents encountered a scam during the past year.
Email rose from 37% in 2025 to 44% in 2026, matching phone calls as the most common channel. Scam exposure through social media and instant messaging also increased.
Investment scams remain the most frequently encountered, while romance scams generate the highest engagement. Among people who lost money, 45% were scammed more than once and 33% reported being blamed by others.
Tools for Humanity Joins GASA as a Foundation Member
Tools for Humanity has joined the Global Anti-Scam Alliance as a Foundation Member and will also support the GASA chapters in Asia-Pacific, Mexico and North America.
The global technology company led the initial development of World Network, which enables people to privately prove they are human online through World ID.
Through GASA, Tools for Humanity will contribute its experience in proof-of-human technology and collaborate with members on AI-driven impersonation, digital trust, intelligence sharing and other emerging scam threats.
Mastercard Joins GASA Mexico as a Foundation Member
Mastercard has joined the GASA Mexico Chapter as a Foundation Member. Operating in more than 200 countries and territories, Mastercard brings expertise in payment security, authentication and fraud prevention to the chapter.
The partnership will support greater intelligence sharing and collaboration across Mexico’s financial, technology and public sectors.
Allstate Identity Protection Joins GASA North America
Allstate Identity Protection has joined the Global Anti-Scam Alliance as a Corporate Member of the North America Chapter.
For nearly 20 years, the company has helped protect personal information and finances. More than 11 million consumers now use its identity protection services, including proactive monitoring, privacy and scam protection tools, human-led restoration support and reimbursement coverage.
Through GASA, Allstate Identity Protection will contribute its experience in identity protection and collaborate with members on intelligence sharing, research, consumer education and responses to emerging scam threats.
BanCoppel, one of Mexico’s largest retail banking networks, has joined the GASA Mexico Chapter as a Corporate Member.
The bank brings experience in customer education, fraud prevention, inclusive banking and reimbursement, with a particular focus on people who are newer to formal financial services.
Through the chapter, BanCoppel will contribute to information sharing, faster tracing of stolen funds and coordinated consumer awareness across Mexico’s financial, telecommunications, technology and public sectors.
ACREMAC, an audit and consulting firm specialising in corporate risk prevention, has joined the GASA Africa Chapter as a Supporting Partner.
Its expertise spans fraud management, credit management, insurance and financing, helping organisations manage risk and strengthen resilience across African markets.
The partnership will support cross-sector collaboration on cybercrime, financial fraud and consumer protection across the region.
Inca Digital has joined the Global Anti-Scam Alliance as a Supporting Partner and member of the GASA North America Chapter.
The company provides digital asset intelligence, analytics and investigative solutions that help organisations monitor risk, detect illicit activity and understand emerging threats across digital asset markets.
Through GASA, Inca Digital will contribute its expertise in blockchain intelligence, investigations and market analytics to support the detection, disruption and prevention of scam activity.
Checkr.org has joined the Global Anti-Scam Alliance as a Supporting Partner.
The corporate foundation works to build stronger communities through fair chance hiring and initiatives that protect people from fraud, abuse and exploitation.
Through GASA, Checkr.org will support scam awareness and community-based prevention efforts, with a particular focus on protecting people who may be more vulnerable to digital exploitation.
Tazama Joins GASA Africa as an Associated Organisation
Tazama has joined the GASA Africa Chapter as an Associated Organisation.
The open-source project provides vendor-neutral transaction monitoring designed to help organisations detect and respond to fraud across instant payment systems.
Tazama will contribute its technical expertise to the chapter’s work on fraud prevention and support knowledge sharing across Africa’s payments and technology sectors as digital payment systems continue to expand.
IBAN+BIC Adds Bank Account Verification to Scam.org
IBAN+BIC has joined Scam.org, adding bank account verification to the platform’s scam-checking capabilities.
Through its API, users will be able to verify bank account information and identify accounts that may have been associated with fraudulent activity before sending money.
The integration adds another layer of financial intelligence to Scam.org, helping people recognise warning signs, report suspicious accounts and avoid potential losses.
Lay the Foundation for a Scam-Free Future: Join GASA Today!
Become a key player in the global effort to eradicate scams and online fraud. By joining the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), you’ll gain access to cutting-edge intelligence, engage in meaningful collaboration, and contribute to building a safer digital ecosystem.
As a Foundation Member, you’ll help shape the future of scam prevention, protect consumers, and disrupt global fraud networks. Unite with leading organisations like Amazon, Google, Mastercard, TrendLife, and many more to tackle this growing threat. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Get in touch to learn about the exclusive benefits of GASA membership and how you can take action now.
Consumer Education Working Group Releases New Scam Response Plan
The new After the Scam: A 5-Step Response Plan provides practical guidance to help people limit further harm and regain control after experiencing a scam.
The resource recommends five immediate actions: stop communicating with the scammer, contact the relevant bank or payment provider, report the incident, change important passwords and speak to someone trusted.
An additional checklist covers device security, credit freezes, identity theft, account monitoring and follow-up scams. Organisations may share the resource or apply their own branding while retaining the original content and reference to GASA.
Why Fighting Scams Requires a Cross-Border Response
Malwarebytes Live spoke with Renata Salvini, Director of the GASA Brazil Chapter, about why collaboration across countries and sectors is essential to preventing and disrupting scams.
The discussion explains why no single organisation sees the full scam journey, and how governments, law enforcement, financial institutions, telecommunications providers and technology companies contribute different capabilities.
It also covers findings from the State of Scams in Brazil 2026 report, why scam reporting matters and the immediate steps people can take after being scammed.
Drawing on insights shared by Sissi de la Peña, Director of the GASA Mexico Chapter, the article explains how social engineering targets human behaviour rather than only technical vulnerabilities.
Scammers use emotional triggers such as fear, urgency, excitement and trust to reduce critical thinking and encourage people to act before checking whether a request is genuine.
The guidance recommends pausing before clicking links, sharing verification codes or transferring money. Requests should be checked through official channels, such as a bank’s app or the telephone number printed on a payment card.
New Feedzai Publication Sets Out a Cross-Sector Blueprint for Safer Money
Feedzai’s new eBook, The Blueprint for a World of Safer Money, brings together 10 leaders from financial services, law enforcement, regulation, technology and consumer protection.
Contributors examine AI adoption, instant payments, scam reporting, intelligence sharing, digital marketplaces and the tools law enforcement requires to investigate financial crime. Brian D. Hanley, GASA’s Director of Asia-Pacific, explains why platforms must move from removing scams after losses occur to designing prevention into their systems.
The collection’s central conclusion is that financial safety requires shared responsibility across sectors.
Uganda Fraud Training Trial Reduced Consumer Losses by 20%
Led by researchers Matthew D. Bird and Rafael Mazer, the trial tested Beera Mubangule (“Be Ready”), an interactive phone-based fraud prevention game, with 27,162 mobile money users in Uganda.
The programme was developed with Viamo, IPA Uganda and the Gates Foundation-funded Consumer Protection Research Initiative. Delivered through Viamo and Airtel Uganda’s 161 information platform, it allowed users to practise responding to realistic scam scenarios on basic mobile phones.
Six to nine months later, trained users lost 20% less money to fraud and filed 67% more complaints with the regulator. SMS reminders alone did not produce the same results among untrained users.
GASA is building a global repository of effective and transferable best practices that make fraud and scams more difficult to execute or help prevent harm.
Practitioners and organisations are invited to submit successful initiatives, policies, tools and interventions. Selected submissions may be published on the GASA website to help others learn from and implement proven approaches.
Anyone can submit an example of a best practice – you do not need to be a GASA member.
GASA Working Groups bring members together to contribute their expertise to practical guidance, frameworks, policy input and tools across education, intelligence sharing, enforcement, prevention and intervention, research, and finance.
Five Eyes Back UK-Led Action Against Global Fraud Networks
The United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have backed new measures to strengthen the international response to fraud and online scams.
The agreement calls for faster intelligence sharing on cross-border fraud operations and coordinated action to shut down the accounts, services and communication channels used by criminals. The Five Eyes partners will also increase support for the INTERPOL Global Fraud Taskforce and develop recommendations for telecommunications, technology and financial companies.
INTERPOL Operation Leads to 58 Arrests Across Six Continents
INTERPOL’s Operation Jackal IV led to 58 arrests and identified 263 suspects during an eight-month operation involving 22 countries.
Authorities uncovered a Crime-as-a-Service network in Argentina, disrupted romance and investment scam operations in South Africa and dismantled a Romanian call centre linked to an estimated EUR 143 million in stolen and laundered funds. The operation also identified money laundering activity in Italy and emerging threats including sextortion targeting minors.
Cambodia Says Scam Compounds Eliminated as Experts Question Claim
Cambodia says it has eliminated all large-scale online scam compounds after investigating 793 suspected locations, taking action against 624 sites and detaining nearly 30,000 suspects since July 2025.
Officials acknowledged that criminal groups have shifted towards smaller operations in guesthouses, condominiums and other locations. Amnesty International and independent experts remain sceptical, warning that the claim has not been independently verified and that disrupting visible compounds does not necessarily dismantle the networks behind them.
Myanmar Says More Than 72,000 Foreign Nationals Repatriated
Myanmar’s government says it has repatriated more than 72,000 foreign nationals from over 50 countries following operations against online scam centres and transnational crime.
Foreign Minister U Than Swe said the country had designated these activities a national security threat and would strengthen regional and international cooperation. The report does not clarify how many of those repatriated were suspected perpetrators or people trafficked into scam compounds.
Man Posed as 49ers Player in Alleged $1.3 Million Romance Scam
Two men have been arrested after allegedly defrauding at least 26 people through a years-long romance scam.
Prosecutors say Daejon Labrayae Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player on dating apps, using football videos, luxury cars and team apparel to support the deception. His online presence was so extensive that search engines and AI tools sometimes identified him as a genuine player.
Victims were introduced to an alleged accomplice posing as a financial adviser and shown fake bank balances exceeding $30 million before being persuaded to send money or take out loans.
Alongside the global GASA newsletter, we also publish chapter-level newsletters to reflect how scams are evolving in different parts of the world.
These editions focus on scam trends, research, policy developments, and cross-sector activity specific to your local context, informed by the work of GASA chapters and partners on the ground.
You can choose the regions most relevant to you and receive updates from Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, and Southeast Asia, alongside global updates from GASA.
17 September – Research Working Group Examines Fraudulent Tickets and Robocall Scams
The next GASA Research Working Group meeting, hosted by Jorij Abraham, Managing Director of GASA, will bring together members and scientific researchers to explore new evidence on fraudulent event tickets and scam robocalls.
Professor Yaniv Hanoch of the University of Wolverhampton will present research into consumers’ ability to distinguish between authentic and fraudulent tickets. Across three studies involving 604 participants, only 42% of fraudulent tickets were correctly identified, although targeted interventions improved detection.
Ryan Moore of the University of Texas at Austin and Dr Doug Shadel of Fraud Prevention Strategies will present an analysis of 4.49 million robocall transcripts collected through 295,749 decoy phone lines. Their research examines how scam calls use emotional pressure, threats and appeals to authority, including tactics targeting older adults.
The speakers will also consider how generative AI could change robocall scams and increase risks to consumers.
Dr Doug Shadel Managing Director, Fraud Prevention Strategies
Ryan Moore Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
24 September – GASA Europe Holds Its First Chapter Meeting
GASA Europe will bring members together for its first chapter meeting to identify where the alliance can add value and begin developing its agenda and action plan for 2026–2027.
The programme will include an overview of the State of Scams in Europe, an introduction to GASA Europe and lessons from the UK Fraud Strategy. Members will then discuss current gaps and opportunities for greater collaboration between industry and government authorities.
The meeting is for GASA members and will be held in hybrid format. In-person participation is by invitation and limited to 30 attendees, while members can register to join virtually.
October – State of Scams Across Africa Webinar Series
GASA will host three webinars presenting findings from the State of Scams in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria 2026 reports. Each session will examine the scam landscape within the country and compare its findings with trends across Africa.
The webinars will explore emerging scam types, their economic and social impact and the role of technologies such as AI, social media, digital payments and cryptocurrencies. Speakers will also discuss practical approaches to prevention, consumer protection, regulation and cross-sector collaboration.
14 October – Mexico Anti-Scam Forum Moves from Coalition to Action
TheMexico Anti-Scam Forum 2026 will bring together approximately 150 senior officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders for an in-person programme conducted in Spanish.
Co-hosted by GASA, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Forum will launch the State of Scams in Mexico 2026 Report and examine the scale, tactics and impact of fraud across the country.
From 09:00 to 16:00, participants from banking, payments, telecommunications, technology, government, academia and international organisations will work towards operational agreements on cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, public awareness and fraud prevention.
Date:14 October 2026 Location: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico City
