Colombia: AI speeds digital financial fraud

TransUnion told Forbes Colombia that its Consumer Pulse 2026 study found 66% of Colombian financial consumers reported exposure to digital fraud. Among those threats, vishing leads at 40% among Colombian financial consumers. The company also said artificial intelligence is accelerating fraud in the financial industry and that the response needs to be coordinated.

How widespread is fraud among financial consumers?

The reach is broad. Portafolio reported, based on a DataCrédito Experian study, that 71% of Colombians faced fraud attempts over the past year and that 46% of those exposed reported at least one successful scam. Semana cited the same study and added that 95% of respondents believe these practices happen frequently in Colombia, while 81% think they have increased from the previous year.

Those figures highlight sustained pressure on users and institutions. In its note to Forbes Colombia, TransUnion also said fraud continues to rise in the region, with growth rates above 30% and, in some geographic areas, attack success rates close to 50%.

What role is AI playing in these attacks?

Forbes Colombia focused its coverage on how artificial intelligence is speeding up fraud in Colombia's financial industry. In that context, the warning is not limited to one tactic, but to a mix of techniques that are becoming faster and more effective with technological support.

Radar Tecnológico added another data point in the same direction, reporting, based on Incode's Agentic Fraud Report 2026, that the report analyzed 66 documented fraud incidents and found 44 confirmed cases involving artificial intelligence. The finding reinforces the view that automation is already present in part of the incidents under review.

How are banks and users responding?

The financial sector has been strengthening its defenses through investment and customer prevention measures. El Universal reported that, according to Asobancaria, banks invested $3.6 trillion in digital innovation and cybersecurity in 2025, and that spending helped keep 99.9% of transactions free of fraud.

At the same time, Diario del Sur published prevention guidance against AI-driven financial fraud. The advice includes not sharing passwords or OTP codes over calls, text messages, or social media, checking the institution's official channels, and being wary of requests for advance payments for loans. Taken together, the coverage points to greater exposure, more pressure on control systems, and changes in user habits.