Fake social media stores and mobile phone number usage fuel scams
The Hague, 4 June 2026 – Online purchase fraud is on the rise as fraudsters increasingly rely on sophisticated digital identities. Fake online stores operating through Facebook and Instagram are becoming more common, while criminals are increasingly combining (temporary) mobile phone numbers with email addresses to carry out scams. Between March and December 2025, the use of this combination increased by 50 percent according to a data analysis conducted by AI fraud and risk specialist AdviceRobo.
Industry analysts have increasingly warned that digital fraud is evolving alongside advances in online identity creation and automation technologies. Organizations such as the World Economic Forum, Deloitte, and Experian have highlighted the growing threat posed by synthetic identities, account takeover schemes, and increasingly sophisticated fraud networks that can mimic legitimate consumer and business behavior. As digital onboarding continues to expand across financial services, fraud prevention is becoming a strategic priority rather than a purely compliance-driven function.
The number of purchase fraud victims is also increasing. Previous research by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) found that 17 percent of Dutch residents aged 15 and older fell victim to online fraud in the past year, with 8 percent specifically affected by purchase fraud. The share of victims has risen by 60 percent over the past three years. While traditional crime and hacking activities have stagnated or declined, digital fraud continues to rise. “Fraudsters are increasingly using interconnected digital identities that appear legitimate within onboarding processes,” says Dr. Diederick van Thiel, co-founder and CEO of AdviceRobo. “They construct convincing digital businesses designed to mimic legitimate companies, including professional-looking online stores, temporary domains, social media advertisements, and so-called mule accounts. These structures enable fraudsters to collect payments before shutting down and disappearing.”
Real-Time Behavioral Analysis
Not only consumers but also businesses are vulnerable. According to Gartner, fraud and identity theft rank among the most significant operational risks facing financial institutions worldwide. Analyses conducted by AdviceRobo using data from a European SME lender show that fraudsters are increasingly relying on linked digital identities within business financing applications as well. In particular, combinations of email addresses and mobile phone numbers show a significant increase in fraud risk indicators. “Traditional checks and identity verification are no longer sufficient to protect consumers, platforms, and financial institutions. These methods primarily assess whether a business or individual formally exists,” says Van Thiel, who earned his PhD from Tilburg University with his dissertation On the Human-Centered AI Transformation of Banking. “Fraudulent digital identities often pass traditional KYC checks because the underlying data appears legitimate. Modern fraud prevention therefore depends on real-time behavioral analysis, digital footprints, and network pattern detection.”
About AdviceRobo
AdviceRobo is a regulated European technology company that provides an AI-driven decision intelligence layer for credit and fraud risk management. By combining consent-based behavioral data, alternative data sources and traditional datasets through explainable AI models, the organisation enables credit bureaus, lenders, retailers, and digital platforms to optimize onboarding processes, expand access to credit, reduce credit risk, and combat fraud in a transparent and compliant manner.
