Fighting online fraud – action plan

Somos, Inc. strongly supports the European Commissions initiative to gather evidence and stakeholder input on combating online fraud. The increasing scale and sophistication of fraud targeting consumers and businesses across digital channels underscores the importance of coordinated regulatory and industry action.

Fraudulent online advertising is a very real issue that is likely to become more serious as AI technology advances. Not only do they result in financial loss for victims, they also erode public trust in politicians and the media. Despite the obligations set out in the DSA, several major social platforms (VLOPs) are clearly tolerating the widespread dissemination of fraudulent ads.

The Italian financial CERT (CERTFin), operated by the ABI Lab consortium, recognizes the importance of improving rules on fighting online fraud and welcomes the present Commission initiative. The significance of online fraud is shown by the CERTFin 2025 Report on Information security and fraud in the Digital Banking.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Commissions initiative on fighting online fraud. This contribution is informed by the work and observations of a project run by the Sosped Foundation, which supports victims of online fraud and gathers insights directly from those affected. The evidence presented reflects victims lived experiences and the projects practical work.

This initiative is a great opportunity to also address the issue of online fraud from both business and society perspectives, since it is increasingly widespread, with an impact on consumers, contributing to the loss of trust online. In the digital age, driven by the rise of e-commerce and the use of social networks as distribution channels, the online advertising industry is experiencing significant growth.

Finance Swedens input to the Commission initiative Fighting online fraud action plan 13 March 2026 Finance Sweden has been given the opportunity to provide input on the Commission initiative Fighting online fraud action plan: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16313-Fighting-online-fraud-action-plan_en Finance Sweden welcomes the initiative and the aim to gather insights and…

European Commission's Call for evidence on Fighting online fraud - action plan Submission by ACI Worldwide (Jackie Barwell, Director, Fraud Product Management) The European Commissions call for evidence is both timely and necessary.

Dear colleagues, Many thanks for the Call for evidence. Eurojust gained a significant experience in relation to the fight against online fraud. The number of investment fraud cases supported by Eurojust have consistently increased since 2020 with yet another sharp rise in 2025. Investment fraud is thus one of the highest reported crimes within Eurojust.

The Industry Traceback Group (ITG) appreciates the opportunity to respond to the European Commissions Call for Evidence on Fighting Online Fraud. Voice calls remain a major fraud vector and often play a role in broader multi-channel scam schemes, including those operating across borders.

This contribution is shared by CECyF / l'Alliance Cyber, a not for profit organisation created in 2014 with the support of the European commission to support cooperation in the fight against cybercrime through training, research and education (2CENTRE project. Based on twelve years of operational experience, this document proposes a practical approach to strengthening European cooperation in this field.

Based on our operational experience, we would like to highlight several challenges encountered in the fight against online fraud. First, the identification of perpetrators remains particularly complex. Fraudulent schemes frequently involve actors operating through foreign hosting providers, anonymized domain registrations, online platforms and payment infrastructures located in multiple jurisdictions.

Please see attached file. Banks are combatting fraud by combining data through Information Sharing Partnerships. Multi-Party Computation (MPC) is identified as the only scalable, secure technology for high-stakes data sharing, and by leveraging it, banks proactively create collective intelligence and stop fraud before it starts.

Online fraud linked to illegal online gambling activity poses a significant and growing risk to players across the EU. Evidence gathered by EGBA members, demonstrates that fraudsters routinely exploit the visibility and reputation of licensed gambling operators to deceive consumers, exposing them to identity theft, financial loss and insufficient responsible gambling tools such as monitoring for problem behaviour…

Bandwidths submission welcomes the broad scope of DG Homes Online Fraud initiative and argues strongly for a coordinated panEU (and ultimately global) framework that explicitly includes PECN/PECS and aligns with the proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA) and the future Office for Digital Networks (ODN).

One Consortium submits our response to the European Commissions DG Home call for evidence on Online Fraud, arguing that the Digital Networks Act (DNA) and the new Office for Digital Networks (ODN) should be used to build a harmonised, cloudera, telecomscentric framework to combat scams and fraud in voice and messaging while preserving innovation and competition in cloud communications.

Online fraud constitutes one of the most significant and rapidly evolving security threats in the European Union, yet its human impact remains frequently underestimated. Crimes such as identity fraud, relationship and trust fraud (including romance scams), consumer fraud, investment fraud, sextortion and grooming rely heavily on psychological manipulation, coercion and deception.

As the pace and sophistication of fraudulent activity accelerate, the financial sector must adapt. While detection, recovery, and reimbursement should be considered, they are reactive by nature. To truly protect citizens, our collective focus must shift toward proactive prevention. By leveraging real-time data we can intercept criminal activity before the damage is done. 1. Strengthening the Regulatory Framework.

Salv is an EU-headquartered regtech company and the operator of Salv Bridge, the only operational pan-European financial crime intelligence sharing network currently serving banks and payment service providers across the EU. Over the past four years, we have facilitated over 56,000 compliant intelligence exchanges, and our network coverage across EU Member States has grown drastically in 2025-2026.

Comms Council UK (CCUK), the UK industry body representing providers of internet based voice and communications services, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an action plan against online fraud and strongly supports deeper international cooperation in this area.

Online fraud represents a significant and evolving threat to citizens, businesses, and public trust in the digital economy. Fraud schemes increasingly exploit social engineering, platform misuse, and cross-border payment systems, resulting in significant harm and undermining confidence in online services.

The Global Signal Exchange (GSE) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to establish a comprehensive action plan against online fraud. As an international, cross-sector clearinghouse for sharing threat signals on scams and fraud, the GSE seeks to address the fragmented nature of current anti-fraud efforts highlighted in the Commission's problem definition.

CrowdStrike appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the CrowdStrike appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Call for Evidence on the EU Fighting Online Fraud Action Plan and welcomes the Commissions leadership in addressing the rapidly evolving threat landscape.

The EMA is the EU trade body representing electronic money issuers and alternative payment service providers. Our members include leading payments and e-commerce businesses worldwide, providing online payments, card-based products, electronic vouchers, and mobile payment instruments. Most members operate across the EU, most frequently on a cross-border basis.

The European fashion industryencompassing luxury, apparel, and footwearremains a global leader and a vital engine of the EU economy. However, this sector is currently the primary target of sophisticated transnational criminal networks exploiting the digital single market.

The Business Constituency (BC) strongly supports the Commissions proposed action plan to combat online fraud and welcomes enhanced cross-border coordination. While ICANN has taken steps to address DNS abuse, the BC remains concerned that existing definitions, policy processes, and enforcement mechanisms are insufficient to address rapidly evolving threats, especially those intensified by AI.

We welcome the opportunity to share our views on DG Homes call for evidence relating to Online Fraud. Bandwidth is a global communications provider with significant presence in the EU27 served through our domestic Authorised entities that fall within our wholly owned subsidiary: Voxbone SA (incorporated in Belgium).

We strongly welcome the development of an EU Action Plan against online fraud. Operational experience shows that online fraud has evolved into a highly industrialised ecosystem combining malicious advertising, phishing infrastructures, spoofed phone numbers, money mule networks, and rapid cross-border financial transfers.

The gTLD Registries Stakeholder Group (RySG) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the European Commissions initiative Fighting Online Fraud Action Plan (Ref. Ares(2026)783547 - 23/01/2026). The RySG shares the European Commissions commitment to addressing DNS Abuse and focuses this submission on outlining intricacies of the topic of DNS Abuse and on DNS Abuse mitigation actions available to top-level domain (TLD)…

BioCatch welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions forthcoming Action Plan to fight online fraud. Online fraud has become highly industrialised, cross-border and increasingly enabled by automation and AI. Organised criminal networks now operate scam ecosystems at scale, exploiting digital platforms, telecommunications and payment systems.

eco Association of the Internet Industry (https://international.eco.de) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive Action Plan against Online Fraud. With approximately 1,000 member companies across the digital value chain, eco represents a significant share of Europes Internet infrastructure and service providers, and has long recognised the threat posed by various forms of online harm.

Infoblox welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commissions call for evidence on the forthcoming Fighting online fraud action plan. We strongly support the objective of developing a coordinated, cross- border strategy that tackles the full lifecycle of online fraud and enhances victim protection, while preserving fundamental rights and data protection safeguards.

1. Strengthen operational cooperation for rapid fund tracing and freezing The recovery of fraud-related funds is often hindered by the lack of efficient and standardised communication channels between the victims bank, the beneficiary bank and subsequent beneficiary institutions. Existing investigation messaging mechanisms are not always sufficiently rapid to prevent further dissipation of funds.

The European FinTech Association (EFA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions action plan on online fraud. We believe that to effectively prevent and mitigate online fraud, all players in the fraud chain must collaborate closely and establish practices to prevent fraud from originating from or taking place through their services.

The Sports Rights Owners Coalition (SROC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Call for Evidence on Fighting Online Fraud. As a coalition representing 55 of the worlds biggest sports organisers, we wish to highlight an oft-ignored avenue of online fraud, online audiovisual piracy, and what we believe the Commission must do to help address it.

The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is the voice of marketers worldwide, representing 90% of global marketing communications spend over 800 billion per year through a unique global network of the worlds biggest markets and biggest marketers. WFA champions responsible and effective marketing communications worldwide. We represent over 150 brand owners and 60 national advertising associations across the world.

Finance Finland strongly welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive EU Action Plan against online fraud. The problem description accurately reflects the current threat landscape across Member States.

See Attached File EURid is the registry operator for the .eu top level domain and its variants in other scripts, designated by the European Commission. Under this mandate, EURid has an obligation to combat speculative and abusive registrations and to support a secure and trustworthy online environment in the EU. Online fraud frequently relies on domain names and DNS infrastructure.

Meta Platforms Ireland Limited welcomes the chance to contribute to the European Commissions Fighting Online Fraud Action Plan. As a global technology company serving hundreds of millions in Europe, Meta is deeply committed to supporting the EUs digital transformation and upholding the highest standards of user protection across privacy, safety, and integrity.

EPIF welcomes Commission's initiatve. To recognise the challenges posed by automation and AI, EPIF emphasises that AI and automation are also powerful tools for detection, prevention, and consumer protection. The action plan should operationalise a permanent cross-sector governance structure that brings together the policy, supervisory and enforcement communities and the sectors that fraudsters exploit end-to-end.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an action plan to fight online fraud. As part of RELX, operating across all EU Member States, the company provides data driven technologies that help public and private sector organisations prevent online fraud, identity related crime, and financial crime.

Chainalysis welcomes the opportunity to input to this call for evidence on online fraud. Our overarching view is that while scammers (and legitimate users) are rapidly moving onto crypto rails, the inherent transparency of public blockchains means that, with the right tools, capabilities, and informationsharing frameworks, crypto can shift the EUs response to increasingly global, industrialised fraud from…

The European Casino Association (ECA) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to fight online fraud and highlights how illegal online gambling a form of consumer fraud enabled by deceptive advertising, trademark abuse, and illicit financial flows can be effectively addressed through the forthcoming Action Plan.

CENTR is the association of European country code top-level domain registries (hereinafter ccTLDs). All EU Member State and EEA country ccTLDs (such as .de for Germany and .no for Norway) are members of CENTR. CENTR members are at the core of the public internet, safeguarding its stability and security.

Sumsub welcomes DG HOME's initiatives to combat online fraud. Online fraud has evolved into an industrialised, AI-enabled and cross-border criminal activity, posing systemic risks to consumers, businesses, and digital markets. Sumsubs 2025 data shows a sharp rise in sophisticated multi-stage fraud and widespread exposure among consumers and companies.

The Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA) is the recognised trade body for the sector with a mission to create safe, responsible and enjoyable experiences for everyone. Representing nearly 500 brands world-wide, tackling fraud is the number one priority for our members.

PayPal strongly supports DG HOMEs initiative to combat online fraud. Protecting consumer trust in digital payments and the digital economy is fundamental to the integrity and resilience of the EUs digital economy, and must remain at the core of the EUs response. To be effective, the Action Plan should reflect the evolving, organised and inherently cross-sectoral nature of modern scams.

We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions preparatory work on the Action Plan on Online Fraud. Online and telephone-enabled fraud is a growing reality that telecom operators confront daily across Europe. Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, more coordinated and more capable of exploiting digital channels at scale, often outpacing anti-fraud defences and regulatory responses.

AIM, the European Brands Association, fully supports the Commissions intention to develop an action plan to combat online fraud. One key modus operandi of online criminals must be addressed in any such action plan: fraudsters (mis)use of brand, company and well-known individuals names to gain the trust of their unwitting victims. Please find attached our comments.

Feedback from FIU Malta. With reference to the paragraph on strengthening coordination and collaboration through the sharing of relevant information and enhanced cooperation between Member States (including financial intelligence units (FIUs) and other competent authorities), private sector stakeholders and international partners, further practical mechanisms could be considered to operationalise this objective.

The Together Against Counterfeiting (TAC) Alliance welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan on Fighting online fraud. The Call for Evidence correctly recognises that online fraud has reached unprecedented levels and continues to grow, harming consumers, businesses and trust in the Digital Single Market.

We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions preparatory work on the Action Plan on Online Fraud. Online and telephone enabled fraud is a growing reality that telecom operators confront daily across Europe. Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, more coordinated and more capable of exploiting digital channels at scale, often outpacing anti-fraud defences and regulatory responses.

The following measures are to be considered in the action plan to tackle the problems identified by the Commission. Please find attached a full answer. 0. Regulatory approach recap The push for immediacy and frictionless onboarding must be balanced against heightened fraud risks and current prevention capabilities.

Telefónica welcomes the Commissions work on the EU Action Plan on Online Fraud and stresses that rapidly growing, increasingly sophisticated fraud requires agile, cross sector and cross border cooperation. Telecom operators already deploy advanced technical measures to detect and prevent fraud, but their effectiveness is constrained by fragmented and restrictive regulatory frameworksparticularly the e Privacy…

See attached file. Summary of the views of the Internet Foundation is limited to the issue of the role of DNS in the issue of online abuse. A TLD administrator is one of several actors in the internet infrastructure that allows users to access content or send emails.

Filed in Swedish · English published by the European Commission

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the worlds largest alliance of public service media, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive action plan to combat online fraud. While existing regulations like the Digital Services Act (DSA) provide certain protections, the unprecedented scale, professionalization, and industrialization of online fraud demonstrate the urgent need for more…

In order to counter scams and fraud over the long term, the priority must be on action to deal with the problem at source: a coordinated and comprehensive international effort must take place to tackle the organised scams crime groups who are behind this threat.

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) welcomes the European Commission establishing a Fraud Action Plan. The fraud landscape facing consumers and financial institutions continues to evolve rapidly, driven by increased digitalisation, sophisticated social engineering techniques and cross channel abuse.

DOT Europe welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop an EU action plan against online fraud. Fraud is increasingly organised, cross-border and technology-enabled, and no single sector or Member State can address it alone.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Commissions call for evidence regardingits upcoming Action Plan to fight online fraud. We support the Commissions assessmentthat this complex phenomenon demands a coordinated, whole-of-society responseinvolving both public and private stakeholders.

Revolut strongly supports the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive Action Plan against online fraud, which adds to the key EU anti-fraud rules under the EU payment framework (PSR/PSD3). A coordinated EU-level approach is essential to disrupt fraud at its source, strengthen prevention, support victims effectively, and enhance cooperation across public and private sectors.

The document in the attachment presents the Dutch Banking Associations feedback on the European Commissions Action Plan against Online Fraud. It expresses strong support for DG HOMEs initiative and highlights several priorities essential for an effective EU wide approach.

Fraud and scams have evolved into a systemic threat to trust in the digital economy, undermining consumer confidence and eroding the integrity of financial services. Fraud is cross-sector, cross-border, and technology-enabled, leveraging the interconnectedness of banks, payments providers, telecom networks, social media platforms, and digital advertisers.

The European Banking Federation (EBF) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Call for Evidence on the European Commissions Action Plan on Fighting Online Fraud. The EBF is the voice of the European banking sector which already invests heavily in fraud prevention and control.

U.Di.Con. APS welcomes the European Commission’s Fighting online fraud action plan and stresses the urgency of timely, systemic and coordinated action against the rise and growing sophistication of online fraud, which is eroding citizens’ savings and trust in the digital ecosystem.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

International Business and Investment Union (IBI Union) Fighting Online Fraud EU Action Plan Online fraud is no longer a peripheral criminal issue it constitutes a structural threat to cross-border investment flows, financial stability and the integrity of the EUs single market.

We strongly welcome this call for evidence and the Commissions intent to publish an EU Fraud Action Plan. There has been a longstanding need for coordinated action in Europe on tackling online fraud and we hope that this document will be strategic in focus, setting out a long-term vision for the development of stronger Union-level counter-fraud frameworks that will likewise strengthen collaboration between Member…

Online fraud is increasingly driven by organised, cross-border criminal networks that industrialise attacks and rapidly adopt new technologies. We observe rising sophistication in document and identity fraud, including GenAI-enabled synthetic documents, deepfakes and injection-type attacks, as well as AI-assisted social engineering that leads to authorised transactions (APP-style scams) which are difficult to…

PUNTUEUS, the registry for the .EUS top-level domain, welcomes the Commissions initiative to establish a coordinated Action Plan against online fraud. As a DNS service provider (registry) already implementing proactive security measures, we strongly support the shift toward an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach.

Contributor: Elfriede Sixt, Chair, European Funds Recovery Initiative (EFRI) The enclosed SSRN research paper draws on EFRIs empirical work (20192024), which covers 1,750 victims of cross-border online investment fraud across 20 European countries, with documented losses totalling 62.5 million. Key findings: First, large-scale online fraud is structurally dependent on regulated infrastructure.