Fraud prevention becoming increasingly important in the AI era

Trends in corporate fraud in the Benelux
Most fraud is still committed by a company’s own employees. In 2025, the number of companies that suffered losses of more than €100,000 due to internal fraud rose to 39%; in 2024 this figure was still below 25%.

Fraud in the clothing and textile industry
Entrepreneurs in the clothing and textile industry deal daily with logistical challenges, international trade, seasonal peaks, and complex supply chains. However, one risk is often underestimated: economic crime. From internal fraud to sophisticated external scams, a single incident can be enough to jeopardize your company’s financial continuity.

The two real-life examples below—recognizable to anyone working with goods flows, international partners, or retail staff—illustrate why this risk should not be underestimated.

Example 1 – Internal eembezzlement discovered through online sales
Fashion company recovers €300,000 worth of stolen inventory on online platforms

At a medium-sized fashion company, an experienced warehouse employee was responsible for receiving and issuing fabrics, sample collections, and inventory. For years, he was highly trusted. It later emerged, however, that he systematically ordered valuable items—such as premium fabrics, limited-edition samples, and accessories—and falsely wrote them off as “rejected” or “used for production.”

In reality, the products were transferred directly to his own storage facility and sold via online platforms such as eBay and Vinted. The fraud came to light when a colleague happened to see a unique item from the new collection appear online—an item that should never have been sold. An internal audit ultimately revealed embezzlement totaling more than €300,000. Thanks to the fraud insurance, the company already received an advance compensation before the legal proceedings were concluded.

Example 2 – Manipulated returns in a clothing store
Cashier embezzles €25,000 through false return receipts

In a busy clothing store, an apparently reliable cashier gradually began to abuse the returns process. She collected abandoned customer receipts, later processed them as fictitious returns, and kept the cash herself.

Due to the large volume of daily transactions, the fraud went unnoticed for nearly two years. Only when colleagues observed a striking increase in refunds was the manager informed. CCTV footage confirmed her method, after which she confessed to having embezzled more than €25,000.
The company was fully compensated through its fraud insurance.

These examples show how creative fraudsters can be. In the clothing and textile industry—with inventories, many links in the supply chain, and international trade—the risk is even greater. Even with solid internal controls and security measures, a residual risk always remains. Whether you work with international suppliers, run a retail chain, or manage a large warehouse, fraud can occur in any fashion or textile company.

AI acceleration makes fraud smarter and harder to detect
New techniques such as deepfake video calls, voice cloning, and synthetic identities are making fraud attacks increasingly realistic. According to research by ACFE and SAS, 77% of fraud risk experts are already seeing more deepfake incidents, and 83% expect this threat to continue to grow.

SAS warns that companies often have too little insight into their own data flows and vulnerable processes. The focus is too often on reactive detection rather than on structural risk management. Due to this limited process knowledge, organizations are more vulnerable to manipulation via advanced AI technologies, which can easily bypass existing controls.

At the same time, AI also offers opportunities. Financial institutions are increasingly using real-time analytics, behavioral data, and network detection to identify fraud at an early stage. Norwegian banks use behavioral and identity data to prevent deepfake fraud. In South Korea, an insurer successfully used network analysis to detect and analyze hidden fraud networks. Similar techniques are also being applied successfully in the public sector, such as in the United States.

SAS emphasizes that technological solutions are only effective when they are part of a broader approach. Organizations need a solid foundation: insight into data, transparent decision-making, and clear internal processes. Without such a foundation, companies remain vulnerable—both financially and reputationally.