The 2026 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey Report provides timely insights into how organizations are currently experiencing payments fraud trends—and how they are responding to increasingly sophisticated schemes targeting business-to-business (B2B) payments.

Based on responses from 465 corporate professionals across a broad range of industries and organization sizes, this report presents data for 2025 and examines trends in attempted and actual payments fraud activity, the payment methods most frequently targeted, and the payments fraud prevention controls organizations are using to mitigate risk. The survey, now in its 22nd year, is conducted annually by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) and is underwritten by Truist®.

Download the Survey Report: AFP Members can access the Comprehensive Report while Non-members can access the Key Highlights (see form below) or purchase the report for $295.

Explore: Companion Webinar (May 28) | Key Findings | Business Email Compromise and Emerging Threats | Fraud Controls and Recovery Efforts | Who Should Read This Payments Fraud Report?

Key Findings

Results from the 2026 survey indicate that payments fraud remains widespread, with 76% of organizations reporting they experienced attempted or actual fraud in 2025. While this represents a slight decline from 2024, payments fraud risk remains elevated. Larger organizations—particularly those with fewer payment accounts—continue to face heightened exposure.

Checks remain the payment method most frequently impacted by fraud. In 2025, 58% of organizations reported check fraud, outpacing ACH fraud and wire fraud. Despite long-standing awareness of check-related risks, checks continue to present persistent vulnerabilities for many organizations managing payments fraud risk.

Business Email Compromise and Emerging Threats

Business email compromise (BEC) remains one of the most common forms of payments fraud, with fraudsters increasingly leveraging impersonation tactics to exploit organizational processes. The report explores how BEC scams are evolving, which payment methods are most often targeted, and which departments are most vulnerable to these attacks.

For the first time, the survey also examines the impact of AI-enabled fraud and deepfake technologies on payments fraud. Findings highlight growing concern around the use of voice and video technologies to impersonate executives, vendors, and other trusted parties—introducing new challenges for fraud detection and fraud prevention controls.

Fraud Controls and Recovery Efforts

In addition to identifying fraud trends, the report evaluates the effectiveness of payments fraud management and fraud prevention controls used across payment channels, including email, checks, and ACH. It also examines how organizations detect fraud, the actions they take when fraud occurs, and the extent to which funds lost to fraud are successfully recovered.

Who Should Read This Payments Fraud Report?

The 2026 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey Report is built for professionals responsible for payments fraud prevention, fraud detection, and payments risk management, including:

• Treasury and cash management professionals
• Finance and FP&A leaders monitoring financial risk
• Accounts payable teams managing B2B payments
• Risk, audit and compliance professionals focused on fraud controls
• Executives responsible for payments fraud strategy and governance

Whether you are strengthening fraud prevention controls or evaluating your organization’s exposure to payments fraud, this report provides actionable benchmarking and insights.

Press Information

Press Release: Over 75 Percent of US Firms Experienced Payments Fraud in 2025 While AI Adoption for Fraud Mitigation Lags

If you are interested in referencing data from this report in marketing materials, etc. please contact Mariam Lamech, Director, Survey Research. 

Contact [email protected] or call 301.907.2862 for more in-depth information, to read the full report or to arrange an interview with AFP Research.

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Questions about this subject

Contact Tom Hunt, CTP, 
AFP's Director of Treasury Practice