ID Scams Surge 245% in Five Years

A new report by Entrust has revealed a sharp escalation in AI-driven fraud, with deepfake attacks now occurring every five minutes globally, alongside a 244% surge in digital document forgeries.

The findings underscore growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence in identity fraud and cybersecurity breaches.

Rising Threat of AI-Driven Fraud

According to the report, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence tools to create highly convincing fake identities, videos, and documents. These tools are being used to bypass traditional verification systems across financial services, government platforms, and digital onboarding processes.

The surge in digital document forgery highlights how fraudsters are exploiting weaknesses in identity verification frameworks, particularly in remote and digital-first environments.

Why this Matters for Emerging Markets

The implications are particularly significant for emerging economies like Nigeria, where digital banking, fintech adoption, and online services are expanding rapidly.

As more users rely on digital platforms for financial transactions and identity verification, the attack surface for fraud also increases.

Without robust safeguards, deepfake-enabled fraud could undermine trust in digital systems, one of the key pillars of a growing digital economy.

Here are five expert tips to avoid rising ID scams 

Worldwide searches for ‘ID scams’ have surged by 245% in the last five years, according to Google Trends.

With this in mind, ID card specialists ID Card Centre have shared expert tricks on spotting and stopping five common ID scams.

1. Be aware of identity phishing scams

Phishing, which describes the act of sending fraudulent emails with the purpose of stealing personal information, is growing in popularity among cybercriminals.

In fact, there has been a 344% rise in worldwide searches for ‘phishing’ in the past five years, according to Google Trends.

These fraudulent emails look like they’re from reputable companies, such as banks or HMRC, claiming tax rebates or reporting suspicious activity.

They will often include a hyperlink and will ask for personal details (such as a full name, date of birth, address, bank details, and national insurance number) to impersonate victims.

To avoid phishing scams, verify the company over the phone or in person before submitting any personal data and always check the website address begins with https://.

2. How to avoid bank account takeovers

Once cybercriminals have stolen someone’s personal information, they are able to access bank and retail accounts, such as online banking and personal savings.  They can ‘take over’ bank accounts by impersonating a victim, changing passwords and moving funds without their knowledge.  With global searches for ‘online banking scam’ reaching a five-year high in December 2025, there’s never been a better time to stay aware.

Remember to change any old passwords, use unique passwords with a combination of higher and lower-case letters and numbers, and enable two-factor authentication.

3. Remember to set up a SIM PIN

The problems don’t stop there. With personal data, scammers can contact mobile networks and ask for a victim’s number to be transferred to their SIM.

This lets cybercriminals bypass identity verifications, such as one-time passcodes (OTPs) which are used to prove identity in real time.

OTPs can give scammers access to online banking apps and payment platforms, like PayPal, and let them reset email passwords and authorise large payments.

To avoid this scam, ensure all mobile devices have a SIM PIN, which is a 4-to-8-digit code unique to a single SIM card.

Go to Settings > Cellular/Mobile Data > SIM PIN on an iPhone or Settings > Security > Other Security Settings > Set up SIM card lock on an Android.

4. Regularly check credit reports for synthetic identity theft

Synthetic identity theft describes the practice of mixing real and incorrect personal information to create a fake identity.

For example, cybercriminals may use a fake name and address alongside a legitimate national insurance number stolen from a victim.

With this, they can build a credit profile that will let them make large payments and take out loans.

By regularly checking their credit files with agencies like Experian and ClearScore, people are less likely to fall victim to synthetic identity theft.

5. Think twice before sharing personal information on social media

Social media is the ideal place for cybercriminals to steal personal information, such as birthdays, full names, and photos.

With this information, they can create fake profiles and contact a victim’s friends or family asking for passwords or money.

Videos posted on social media can also be used for AI voice cloning scams, which is when artificial intelligence mimics the sound of someone’s voice.

To avoid social media impersonation and AI voice cloning scams, think twice before making profiles public and sharing any personal information.

By following these steps, Brits are less likely to fall victim to identity fraud in 2026.

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