Visa dismantles $100M European fraud ring with AI-driven scam detection

Visa’s Scam Disruption team has uncovered a major fraud ring in Europe. The operation involved a 'survey scam' that generated around $100 million in illegal earnings. The team also stopped an additional $1.6 billion in fraud attempts since October 2025. The scam tricked consumers by offering products at low prices. Victims were then signed up for recurring payments at much higher sums. The ring included roughly 1,000 merchants linked to 21 European acquirers.

Visa’s Scam Disruption practice uses advanced analytics to detect and block scams before they affect consumers. Since its launch over two years ago, the team has identified over $2.6 billion in global fraud attempts. In the second half of 2025 alone, they spotted 22% more scams than in the previous year.

The practice not only flags suspicious activity but also uncovers wider criminal networks. It collaborates with banks, partners, and law enforcement to shut down fraud operations. This work supports clients in tackling new threats and strengthens trust in the payments system. The European VSD team successfully dismantled the survey scam and prevented further losses. David Capezza, Visa Europe’s Chief Risk Officer, highlighted the team’s role in safeguarding consumers and securing the payments ecosystem. Their efforts continue to reduce fraud and protect financial transactions across the region.