Global Scans · Crime · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Crime is morphing away from traditional methods to more sophisticated technological approaches. A decline of traditional hierarchical criminal groups and networks will be accompanied by the expansion of a virtual criminal underground made up of individual criminal entrepreneurs. At the same time, forward-looking agencies are equipping themselves with smart technologies to outfox the criminals. Keep up to date with crime changes below.

• [New] As financial crime risks grow more complex, geopolitical instability reshapes exposure profiles, and enforcement actions continue to make headlines, 2026 is emerging as a defining year for Know Your Customer and customer due diligence. FinExtra
• [New] Europol has been explicit about AI accelerating and scaling organised crime, including online fraud and cyber operations, and warns about increasingly autonomous capabilities. EM360Tech
• [New] Trump's loose use of the term Antifa as a catch-all label for Americans engaging in protest activity creates the risk that the new designation of FTOs could be used to justify criminal investigations. Lawfare
• [New] Going into 2026, turning the tide on retail crime will require a collective effort. Retail News & More
• [New] From the fusion of cyber and financial crime risks to the intensifying demands of sanctions compliance, global regulatory expectations are accelerating, and the cost of falling behind is rising. Global Compliance Institute
• [New] The U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime encourages changing passwords after scam activity and not responding to any requests for payment, even if threats are made. Thomson Reuters Institute
• [New] Child trafficking is a serious matter as it exploits young children's vulnerabilities, violates their rights and separates them from their biological families for others' personal gain or criminal activities. CNA
• [New] 2026 could see the further roll out of AI post-call analysis, already successfully piloted by West Yorkshire Police. Policing Insight
• [New] What's new The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center warned that AI-assisted fraud schemes, including synthetic voice impersonation and AI-generated social engineering messages, are increasing. TECHMANIACS.com
• [New] Regular troops are less trained for domestic policing, so the Pentagon will either want training time before deployments or be more hesitant to recommend usage. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] In 2026, cartels and gangs targeted by the Trump administration after their Foreign Terrorist Organization classification could seek to engage in horizontal escalation and commit attacks in the United States. The Soufan Center
• [New] Convergence of APTs and Cybercrime: The line between nation-state actors and criminal gangs will blur as they share infrastructure and tactics, accelerating the scale and sophistication of global attacks. Breached Company
• [New] 2026 could see an unprecedented rate of drone adoption by foreign and domestic terrorist actors. The Soufan Center
• [New] In 2026, terrorist groups in conflict hotspots will continue refining and learning how best to deploy drones for their missions and how to circumvent drone countermeasures implemented by overstretched security institutions across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The Soufan Center
• [New] The FCA has made clear with the implementation of the UK failure to prevent fraud offence that it expects regulated firms to embed fraud protection into their financial crime framework. Solicitors journal
• [New] In 2026, AI will continue to support AML programs with continuous learning, adaptive risk models, and workflow support with meaningful insights into criminal networks. Sumsub
• [New] In 2026 is going to accelerate the usage of AI for nefarious purposes, and the financial services industry is going to have to ramp up its adoption and use cases at unprecedented levels to not fall further behind in the financial crime battle. FinTech Profile
• [New] Agentic AI will help to support financial crime compliance in 2026. FStech
• [New] In 2026, higher education law enforcement will prioritize belonging-driven policing, AI-enhanced security infrastructure, rigorous Clery Act compliance, and interdisciplinary workforce training to strengthen campus safety and institutional resilience. Campus Safety Magazine
• [New] In 2026, the campus police officer profile will evolve from traditional enforcement specialist to interdisciplinary safety professional, capable of balancing protection, service, communication, and emotional intelligence with technical proficiency and tactical readiness. Campus Safety Magazine

Last updated: 17 January 2026