BioCatch Report Finds Digital Banking Fraud Rising Across Latin America
Summary
BioCatch’s 2026 report, based on data from 36 Latin American financial institutions, says social-engineering scams rose 155% in 2025. It also reports increases in account takeover, malware, and remote-access fraud, with activity shifting toward mobile.
Key points
- BioCatch says its analysis used proprietary data from 36 Latin American financial institutions serving an estimated 300 million-plus customers.
- The report says social-engineering scam attempts rose 155% in 2025, while account-takeover attempts and reported money mule accounts also increased across the region.
- BioCatch reports a 225% rise in malware attacks, a 344% increase in stolen-device cases, and a 409% increase in fraud attempts using remote-access tools.
- The report describes mobile remote-access activity accelerating in 2025; average session lengths were 316 seconds on mobile and 660 seconds on desktop.
- BioCatch identifies direct, purposeful navigation and limited hesitation as behavioral signals in mobile remote-access fraud sessions; desktop cases also showed cursor irregularities and environmental risk indicators.
- The report presents BioCatch Trust Argentina as a real-time, inter-bank initiative that shares behavioral fraud intelligence and assesses both sending and receiving accounts.
Article Details
- Publisher
- BioCatch
- Report Period
- 2025
- Scope
- Digital banking fraud trends in Latin America, based on data from 36 financial institutions.
- Sample Size
- 36 Latin American financial institutions serving an estimated more than 300 million customers.
- Key Statistics
- Reported social engineering scam attempts against Latin American consumers increased 155% in 2025 compared with 2024.
- Banks deploying BioCatch solutions reported 42% more money mule accounts; BioCatch customers in Argentina recorded a 27% decline in mule activity.
- Account takeover attempts at Latin American financial institutions increased 155%; Mexico reported a 324% increase and Colombia a 188% increase.
- Across the region, malware attacks increased 225% and stolen device cases increased 344%.
- Fraud attempted via remote-access tools increased 409% across the region.
- Recommendations
- Combine behavioral, device, and contextual intelligence with transactional data to assess fraud risk in real time.
- Assess both the sending and receiving accounts when evaluating a transaction, including the destination account’s profile and history.
- Share fraud-risk signals among financial institutions in real time to identify suspicious receiving accounts and respond faster.
MITRE ATT&CK
People
Vendors
Countries
Argentinaour customers in Argentina recorded a 27% decline in mule activity. In May of 2025, three ArgentinianBrazilmalware attacks increased by 167%. BrazilChileChile • Stolen device cases rose by approximatelyCosta RicaPanama, Costa Rica,Dominican Republicand the Dominican RepublicMexico• Account takeover attempts at Latin American financial institutions ballooned by 155%. Banks in MexicoPanamaPanama, Costa Rica,PeruPeru increased dramatically.