[Credit Card Fraud Survey 2026]

Cacco Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroyuki Iwai; Stock Code: 4166; hereinafter referred to as Cacco), which supports the security of online transactions with AI and proprietary algorithms, has conducted the "Credit Card Fraud Survey 2026" to clarify the damage situation of credit card fraud and changes in consumer awareness.

We are pleased to announce the results.

Survey Highlights

1. [Timing] Peak of damages concentrated in spring and summer. April-September accounts for over 40% (44.6%) of the total.

The period when victims experienced fraud was most frequently "April-June (23.8%)", followed by "July-September (20.8%)", with over 40% of damages concentrated in the spring and summer months.

2. [Situation] Approximately 1 in 4 people were victims due to "rush during sales".

The situation at the time of the incident was most commonly "rushed during a sale" at 23.5% (approximately 1 in 4 people), followed by "was waiting for contact from that online shopping site (10.3%)".

3. [Compensation Rate] Compensation rate for damages decreased by 16 points year-on-year.

The response "was compensated" for the amount of damage was only 69.8%, a serious situation with a decrease of 16 points compared to the 2025 survey. In cases of low-value transactions, the compensation period (60 days) may expire without the victim noticing for a long time.

4. [Response to Compensation] "Left unaddressed due to unknown application method" was highest among those in their 20s at 31.0%, with younger demographics dominating.

The proportion of people who "left it unaddressed because they didn't know the application method" was highest among those in their 20s (31.3%) and 30s (28.8%). Some credit card companies require analog methods such as phone calls for procedures, which can be a psychological barrier for young people who are accustomed to digital and prioritize efficiency and ease.

5. "EMV 3-D Secure (Authentication)" (hereinafter referred to as EMV3DS) adoption rate nearly doubled year-on-year, but over 70% responded that it is "troublesome".

As a countermeasure, the introduction of EMV 3DS has nearly doubled year-on-year. On the other hand, a dilemma was revealed where 71.5% of users find "authentication troublesome".

Survey Overview

- Survey Period: June 2026

- Target Audience: 400 men and women aged 20 and over nationwide who have experienced credit card fraud while using online shopping.

- Valid Responses: 400

- Survey Method: Online questionnaire survey

* The sum may not be 100% due to rounding of fractions.

Survey Results

1. Products Targeted by Credit Card Fraud

Looking at the breakdown of products purchased through fraudulent use, the most common, as in 2025, was "Consumer electronics, computers" (25.0%), followed by "Hobbies" (18.8%) and "Food" (15.5%). Among these, hobbies increased by 5 points year-on-year, with trading cards and limited edition figures, which are highly liquid and have expanding markets, being targeted by resale groups. These are presumed to be efficient targets for criminals as they can be quickly converted to cash through peer-to-peer transactions (e.g., flea market apps).

2. Over 40% (44.6%) of damages concentrated in spring and summer from April to September.

"April-June" accounted for the largest share at 23.8%, followed by "July-September" at 20.8%, showing a trend of more damages in spring and summer. The concentration of damages in spring and summer is thought to be related to major holidays such as the start of a new life, Golden Week, and summer vacation, when consumer travel and online payments become more active. Furthermore, this period coincides with large summer sales by various e-commerce sites and a surge in bookings for travel and events, suggesting that fraudsters may be targeting these times. However, fraudulent use can also occur spontaneously depending on product demand and is not necessarily limited to specific periods.

3. The most common situation at the time of the incident was "rush" during sales.

Regarding the situation when card information was entered, the response "rushed during a sale" was the most common at 23.5% (approximately 1 in 4 people). This was followed by "was waiting for contact from that online shopping site (10.3%)". This highlights the reality that fraudsters skillfully target moments when attention is lowered, such as consumer psychological urgency or contacts disguised within everyday situations.

4. The proportion of damages "compensated" decreased by 16 points year-on-year.

The response "was compensated" was limited to 69.8%, a decrease of 16 points compared to the 2025 survey (85.8%). Additionally, the proportion by age group for "left unaddressed due to unknown application method" was highest among younger demographics, with those in their 20s (31.3%) and 30s (28.8%).

The sharp decrease in the compensation rate is thought to be partly due to criminals making low-value transactions instead of stealing large sums at once, making them harder to detect, and thus exceeding the compensation period (generally within 60 days). Furthermore, the high rate of "leaving unaddressed" among younger people is presumed to be because some credit card companies require phone calls for compensation applications, which presents a high psychological barrier for young people accustomed to digital methods and prioritizing efficiency and ease, leading them to give up.

[By Age Group]

5. Adoption of EMV 3-D Secure (authentication) nearly doubled, but over 70% responded it is "troublesome".

As a countermeasure against credit card fraud, "checking card statements" was the most common, as in previous years. This was followed by "usage notification service" and "EMV 3DS (authentication)", but "registration for EMV 3DS" nearly doubled year-on-year. This indicates that the wave of mandatory EMV3DS adoption, promoted by the government's "Credit Card Security Guidelines," is permeating among general consumers.

6. Approximately 70% (71.5%) of respondents found authentication (EMV3DS and reCAPTCHA) troublesome.

While security is strengthening, a dilemma between safety and convenience has emerged, with over 70% of users feeling stressed by the authentication process to verify if a transaction is by the legitimate user during payment. The effort of entering passwords or selecting images is one of the causes that significantly impacts "cart abandonment" on e-commerce sites.

7. Behavioral changes after experiencing credit card fraud.

Regarding behavioral changes after experiencing fraud, the top responses were "started checking monthly statements" (48.8%) and "set up credit card usage notification function" (34.3%). By generation, younger generations were more likely to "set up credit card usage notification function," while those aged 40 and over were more likely to "started checking monthly statements," reflecting generational digital habits.

Cacco's Analysis

The most alarming finding in this survey is the significant decrease in the compensation rate for damages by 16 points year-on-year (69.8%). This is thought to be due to cases where fraudsters repeatedly make low-value transactions, making them harder to detect over a long period, and thus exceeding the compensation period (generally within 60 days) set by credit card companies. Furthermore, a concerning reality is that 19.8% of victims, approximately 20% of the total, "did not apply for compensation and left it unaddressed." This is because fraudsters skillfully exploit moments when human attention is lowered, such as the "rush" of purchasing psychology during e-commerce sales or everyday situations like "waiting for contact" where people are less vigilant.

On the other hand, cases where credit card companies still require analog methods such as phone calls for compensation application procedures persist, and it is presumed that the complexity of these procedures creates a psychological barrier for modern consumers accustomed to digital methods, leading them to give up. Amidst this, the introduction of "EMV 3DS" for authentication as a credit card fraud countermeasure has doubled, but the dilemma with convenience, where 71.5% of users find it "troublesome," is also serious.

To fundamentally reduce credit card fraud, it is essential for both consumer measures, such as speeding up initial responses with real-time usage notification functions, and business measures, such as preventing cart abandonment with fraud detection systems that pinpoint and block only suspicious transactions, to work in unison.

[Previous Consumer Survey Reports on Credit Card Fraud]

- FY2025 https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000177.000009799.html

When quoting the results of this survey, please cite "Cacco 'Credit Card Fraud Survey 2026'" as the source.

About Cacco Inc.

Cacco's fraud detection service "O-PLUX" is a cloud service that uses proprietary algorithms leveraging data science such as AI to detect all types of fraud in online transactions in real-time, realizing damage prevention and automation of check operations. For EC businesses, it provides fraud detection solutions for everything from fraudulent logins to fraudulent order measures. For financial institutions and membership sites, it offers solutions for account opening, logins, and transactions to prevent information leakage, phishing, and impersonation.

In its data science services, Cacco contributes to cost reduction, operational efficiency, and profit improvement through data utilization and analysis across various industries such as manufacturing, apparel, and construction.

* Company names and product/service names (including logos) mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Company Profile

Cacco Inc.

Address

1-5-31 Motoakasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Representative

Hiroyuki Iwai, President and CEO

Established

January 28, 2011

URL

https://cacco.co.jp/

Business Activities

SaaS Algorithm Provision Business

(Fraud Detection Service, Payment Consulting Service, Data Science Service)

Related Sites

Fraud Detection Media "Fraud Detection Lab FuseLabo"

https://frauddetection.cacco.co.jp/media/

Data Science Blog

https://cacco.co.jp/datascience/blog/

Recruitment Information

https://cacco.co.jp/recruitment/index.html