Unico Blocks BRL 19.6 billion (~$3.5 Billion USD) in Fraud Attempts in H1 2026 Amid Surge in “DIY Deepfakes”

Unico, Latin America’s leading identity verification network, ended the first half of 2026 having blocked BRL 19.6 billion (~$3.5 billion USD) in attempted fraud in Brazil. The amount represents a 23% increase compared with the same period last year. In total, more than 13 million fraudulent attacks were recorded across 23 economic sectors that use the company’s identity verification solutions, averaging nearly one attempt per second throughout the first six months of the year.

"Cybercrime has become increasingly professionalized, operating at an industrial scale under a Fraud-as-a-Service (FaaS) model. Organized criminal networks leverage highly automated tools and artificial intelligence to launch massive attack waves," said Fernanda Beato, General Manager of Unico in Brazil. "High-liquidity sectors like financial services naturally absorb the highest attack volumes. In this hyperconnected threat landscape, identity verification has evolved into a fundamental strategic pillar for enterprise continuity in the digital economy."

The Rise of Sophisticated Fraud

Fraudsters' tactics continue to evolve rapidly. Following a more than 1,000% surge in sophisticated fraud attempts at the end of 2025, Unico recorded an additional 500% year-over-year increase in the first half of 2026. The total volume of sophisticated fraud detected in H1 2026 has already surpassed the total recorded for the entire year of 2025. 

Sophisticated fraud combines deepfake technology with advanced technical capabilities designed to exploit vulnerabilities in liveness detection engines, including image depth, texture, and natural movement. Attackers frequently deploy software injection techniques to simulate live video feeds and attempt to bypass security perimeters.

“Sophisticated fraud has increased 24-fold when we consider 2025 and the first half of 2026. This is a threat to society as a whole, and no company can fight it alone without technology partners. That is why we continuously review and stress-test our systems, simulating new attack vectors before they become widespread in the market, while combining network effects with metadata to identify and block serial fraudsters,” Beato added.

The Explosion of “DIY Deepfakes”

The widespread accessibility of AI tools drove a new threat vector in 2026: low-barrier, "Do-It-Yourself" (DIY) deepfakes. Unlike advanced technical exploits, these attacks are executed by non-technical bad actors using low-cost consumer applications to target acquaintances and family members. While leveraging generative AI, these videos lack the technical sophistication to bypass robust liveness detection engines and are swiftly blocked by core security measures. 

Nevertheless, this shift represents a emerging subcategory of presentation attacks, driving a 400% surge in simple fraud volume during H1 2026 compared to H1 2025. 

This massive influx prompted Unico to recalibrate its threat categorization models. In mid-2025, sophisticated attacks comprised approximately 61% of total threat volume. In H1 2026—despite reaching record absolute volumes—sophisticated attacks represented just over 14% of the overall total. This shift reflects the massive dilution caused by the sheer volume of entry-level deepfakes rather than a decline in advanced threats.

“Our recent audits have revealed a new type of fraudster: ordinary individuals using deepfake apps to impersonate relatives and approve registrations or transactions. This creates an opportunity for criminals to exploit personal relationships and access to victims’ data. The good news is that, even when AI is used, these attempts are easily blocked by our infrastructure,” Fernanda explains.

Unico is Latin America’s largest identity verification platform and a premier trust layer for the digital economy. Operating across more than 20 countries and 23 industry sectors, Unico leverages facial biometrics, custom AI models, and multi-layered security protocols to verify identity authenticity in real time. Covering 96% of Brazil’s economically active population, Unico is trusted by major enterprises, including the region's 5 largest private banks and 9 of the top 10 retail giants. 

About Unico
Unico is Latin America’s leading identity verification network and a global provider of trust infrastructure. Using proprietary facial biometrics and machine learning technology, Unico prevents fraud and protects digital transactions to help build a safer and more efficient world. For more information, visit www.unico.io.

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