Fighting Scams in 2026: Global Priorities and Collaboration

Date of Event: 15 January 2026 Event: GASA New Year Online Reception

As 2026 begins, scam activity continues to expand in scale, sophistication, and global reach. Criminal networks are moving faster, exploiting new technologies and cross-border gaps faster than traditional responses can keep up. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated action across sectors, jurisdictions, and disciplines.

To mark the start of the year, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance convened senior leaders from technology, finance, government, and policy for its New Year Online Reception, Fighting Scams in 2026. The session focused on identifying the most pressing scam threats on the horizon and aligning priorities for collective action in the year ahead.

The discussion brought together perspectives from global platforms, financial institutions, international banking bodies, and law enforcement. Speakers shared how scam tactics are evolving, where current defences are falling short, and what practical collaboration will be required to reduce consumer harm at scale.

Speakers:

• Abigail Bishop, Head of External Relations – Amazon

• Giacomo Gnecchi, Head of Trust and Safety – Google

• Paul Benda, Chair, Fraud and Scams Taskforce – International Banking Federation

• John Kirwan, Head of Trust and Integrity – TikTok

• Saeed Khalfan Ali Alkaabi, Lieutenant Colonel – Ministry of the Interior of the United Arab Emirates

• Justen David, Senior Director, Global Public Policy – Somos

Throughout the conversation, speakers highlighted several themes shaping the scam landscape in 2026. These included the continued industrialisation of scam operations, the growing use of AI to personalise fraud at scale, and the increasing overlap between scams and broader forms of organised financial crime. Panellists stressed that fragmented, sector-specific responses are no longer sufficient against adversaries that operate seamlessly across platforms and borders.

A strong emphasis was placed on cross-industry and cross-border collaboration. Financial institutions, technology platforms, telecoms providers, and law enforcement agencies all play distinct but interdependent roles in scam prevention. Speakers underscored the need for faster intelligence sharing, clearer escalation pathways, and better alignment between prevention, disruption, and victim support.

The session concluded with speakers sharing their personal and institutional New Year’s resolutions for fighting scams more effectively. These ranged from deeper operational collaboration and improved data exchange to clearer accountability frameworks and stronger support for victims navigating the aftermath of fraud.

The GASA New Year Online Reception set a clear tone for 2026: reducing the global impact of scams will depend on sustained cooperation, shared responsibility, and a willingness to move from discussion to coordinated action.

Watch the full discussion below to hear how global leaders are aligning priorities to confront scam threats in the year ahead.