Africa's digital economy is growing rapidly, with mobile money, fintech, and e-government services advancing financial inclusion. However, this swift development has made the region one of the most active battlegrounds for identity fraud.
This according to Sumsub Identity Fraud Report (2025-2026), which shows just how rapidly deepfake technology is being weaponised.
The report notes that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deepfake-related fraud attempts rose by +367% YoY, Malawi saw a +325% increase, Tanzania recorded +317% growth, with deepfakes now part of 0.71% of all fraud attempts.
It goes on to say some countries, like Kenya, are even more exposed: while fraud rates fell overall, deepfakes already account for nearly 10% of fraud attempts.
The report reads: “The implication is clear: deepfakes are no longer rare experiments reserved for the tech-savvy. They are integrated into everyday fraud playbooks, often surfacing inside mismatch categories rather than being cleanly labeled, because their realism increasingly confuses detection systems.”
Tom Schoon, head of partnerships for Africa at Sumsub, explains the trend, saying deepfakes were surging in Africa because these markets were experiencing rapid digital adoption without equally strong verification and security controls.
Fraud networks are progressively moving into industries where verification systems are less mature and deepfake-based attacks have a better chance of succeeding, Schoon adds.
Furthermore, he says the Sumsub Fraud Exposure Survey shows that deepfake exposure across the region was “nearly universal (91 percent),” with 1 in 5 people directly targeted, and 24 percent unable to distinguish deepfakes.
“This combination of fast-growing digital ecosystems, lower detection capabilities, and high exposure makes these countries especially attractive targets for AI-enabled impersonation attacks,” says Schoon.
Nonetheless, The Sumsub Report notes fraud is decreasing in South Africa, Algeria and Kenya because these countries have invested in strong regulatory frameworks, biometric-based electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) systems, and stricter anti-money laundering (AML)/KYC enforcement.
The report singles out South Africa as an example of regulatory maturity.
It further states that tighter AML/CFT controls, enhanced verification across major institutions, and the implementation of biometric e-KYC standards have greatly reduced traditional fraud.
At a global level, Andrew Sever, CEO of Sumsub, says: “We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the nature of fraud. Generative AI has democratised deception, but it has also forced verification to innovate at a pace faster than ever before.
“What we’re witnessing now is not a rise in the levels of fraud, but instead, smarter and more deliberate attacks, with multiple layers of deceit.
“The sophistication shift marks a turning point, as businesses now face challenges related to their velocity and the speed at which they can detect threats and adapt.
“The next frontier of fraud prevention will belong to those who can unite human insight, data intelligence, and AI precision to build trust at scale. This report captures the evolution of fraud to turn data into foresight for building a safer digital future.”
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