New findings from TransUnion’s H2 2025 Update to the Top Fraud Trends Report reveal that digital fraud continues to rise globally, with account-creation fraud remaining the riskiest stage in the consumer lifecycle.
The report, based on TransUnion’s proprietary global intelligence network, which analyzes billions of transactions from over 40,000 websites and apps, alongside a consumer survey spanning 18 countries, shows that 8.3% of new account transactions worldwide are suspected of fraud.
Kenya’s rate mirrors this global trend, as fraudsters increasingly exploit digital onboarding vulnerabilities using AI-driven impersonation, social engineering, and stolen credentials.
Account Takeover Attacks Surge
Digital account-takeover (ATO) incidents are also escalating.
Data from TransUnion’s intelligence network indicates a 21% increase in ATO attempts year-over-year between H1 2024 and H1 2025, and a staggering 141% rise since 2021.
“Account-takeover incidents rose 21% year-over-year in H1 2025; businesses need to shift from reactive responses to layered, proactive controls, including identity intelligence and behavioral analytics, to reduce fraud losses,” said Amritha Reddy, Senior Director of Fraud Product Management, TransUnion Africa.
Gaming Sector Leads in Suspected Fraud
In Kenya, the highest suspected digital fraud rates were recorded in the gaming sector, including online betting and poker platforms, at 10.4%.
Other vulnerable sectors included logistics (7.8%) and government services (7.5%), highlighting multiple points of exposure across the digital economy.
Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts in Kenya by Sector (H1 2025)
| Industry | Suspected Fraud Rate | Change from H1 2024 |
| Gaming | 10.4% | +49% |
| Logistics | 7.8% | -35% |
| Government | 7.5% | +44% |
| Insurance | 4.8% | -39% |
| Retail | 3.2% | -96% |
| Communities (forums, dating sites) | 2.6% | -28% |
| Financial services | 2.2% | -56% |
| Telecommunications | 0.7% | -63% |
| Travel & leisure | 0.1% | -87% |
High Consumer Exposure Amid Awareness Gaps
Globally, nearly half of consumers (48%) reported being targeted by fraud via email, phone calls, texts, or online platforms between February and May 2025.
In Kenya, this figure was 81%, with vishing being the most common fraud type (46%), followed by money/gift card scams (45%), phishing (41%), and smishing (39%).
Many victims remain unaware of being targeted 52% globally and 19% in Kenya underscoring gaps in fraud recognition.
Fraud Victimization in Africa (Feb–May 2025)
| Country | Fell Victim | Targeted but Not Victim | Not Targeted | Most Reported Fraud |
| South Africa | 13% | 46% | 42% | Money/gift card |
| Kenya | 10% | 71% | 19% | Vishing |
| Zambia | 9% | 76% | 15% | Money/gift card |
| Rwanda | 9% | 49% | 42% | Money/gift card |
| Namibia | 8% | 57% | 35% | Money/gift card |
| Botswana | 6% | 68% | 26% | Money/gift card |
“Kenya is making progress in fraud prevention, with financial institutions adopting AI-driven fraud detection, biometric verification, and consumer education initiatives. However, more focus is needed in high-risk sectors like video gaming, where protections should integrate identity, device, and behavioral analytics,” Reddy said.
She added that consumers should regularly check their credit reports to ensure accuracy as fraud tactics continue to evolve.
The report draws on intelligence from TransUnion’s global fraud prevention solutions and covers detailed country and regional data, including Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, India, the UK, the US, and more.
The full H2 2025 Update to the Top Fraud Trends Report offers deeper insights into global fraud patterns and prevention strategies.
