Defeating Authorised Push Payment Fraud in Cross-Border Payments

As cross-border payment volumes grow toward an estimated $250 trillion, authorized push payment (APP) fraud has emerged as a major global threat. This LSEG Risk Intelligence whitepaper explains how criminals exploit social engineering, cross-border complexity, and fast-payment infrastructure to deceive individuals and businesses into authorizing fraudulent transfers. It defines APP fraud, outlines its key characteristics, and provides real-world examples such as deepfake-enabled business email compromise and invoice redirection scams. The paper surveys regulatory and policy responses in markets including the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Singapore, and emphasizes why traditional, static controls are no longer sufficient. It then details practical measures banks, corporates, PSPs, and fintechs can take such as real-time account verification, multilayer authentication, AI-driven monitoring, and improved data sharing to build a 24/7, continuous fraud-prevention posture that supports safe global growth.