By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
FRAUD is now a ‘top global priority’ for INTERPOL amid surging numbers of scams, according to agency boss Valdecy Urquiza.
Speaking at the AML Intelligence European Anti-Financial Crime Summit (EAFCS) in Dublin, the Secretary General of Interpol highlighted the rise in the number of victims.
“The Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimated global losses to fraud last year as $442 billion,” he said.
“The assessment also revealed something unprecedented. Between 2024 and 2025, INTERPOL notices in diffusions related to fraud increased by 54%. In our organisation we have never seen something like that in any other criminal area.”
Mr Urquiza added that the agency is now working with international law enforcement to crack down on scams.
“Our member countries have been unequivocal. Fraud and financial crime are among INTERPOL’s top global operational priorities.”
The INTERPOL boss said that fraud is a particularly difficult crime to combat, as it “does not respect national borders”.
“It goes beyond countries, beyond regions. It does not care about national legislation, about regulatory frameworks, or the pace at which governments move,” he said.
“Fraud thrives when countries act alone. It feeds on the gaps between jurisdictions. On the delays in information-sharing, and on the difference in legal systems.”
For these reasons, Mr Urquiza said that the best way to combat fraud is to increase international cooperation.
“Multi-lateralism gives us the tools to fight back. It gives countries the opportunity to share data, expertise and operational insights.
“It enables us to coordinate investigations which span across regions. And it ensures that no country, large or small, is left to confront transnational crime in isolation.”
Earlier at ‘Day Zero’ of EAFCS 2026, Mr Urquiza received the ‘John O’Driscoll Memorial Award’. This recognizes international cooperation to fight financial crime. The INTERPOL secretary general described receiving the award as a “profound honour”.
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