Contactless payments (NFC/tap-to-pay) exploded in popularity – over 80% of global in-store transactions in 2025 (EMVCo/Statista) – but fraud has not risen proportionally. Overall contactless fraud rates remain very low (< 0.2 % of transactions), thanks to EMV chip dynamic cryptograms, tokenization, and biometric locks.
Key 2025 Findings (from EMVCo, Visa, Mastercard, Juniper, FIS, Cleafy reports):
Why no significant rise:
Specific 2025 incidents (rare but notable):
Real threats: Deepfake social engineering + relay on old terminals (limited). Prevention: Biometric + tokenization + vigilance.
Contactless is one of the safest payment methods in 2025.
Stay safe. Your choice.
– Based on EMVCo, Juniper, FIS, Cleafy, ESET reports (2025).
Key 2025 Findings (from EMVCo, Visa, Mastercard, Juniper, FIS, Cleafy reports):
- No major rise in contactless fraud – rates stable or declining in mature markets (US/EU).
- Fraud shifted to card-not-present (CNP) and friendly fraud (disputes).
- Deepfake/relay attacks exist but limited (3–8 % success on old terminals).
- Tokenization reduced NFC fraud by 34–60 %.
- Global contactless volume: $10–$15 trillion – fraud losses < 0.1 %.
Is There a Rise in Contactless Payment Fraud? (The Data Says No)
| Year | Contactless Fraud Rate | Total Fraud Losses | Notes (2025 Reports) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | < 0.15 % | ~$5–$8B | Low due to EMV/tokenization |
| 2024 | < 0.12 % | ~$6–$10B | Slight increase from volume growth |
| 2025 | < 0.1 % | ~$8–$12B | Stable/declining – AI detection + biometric |
Why no significant rise:
- EMV dynamic cryptograms – cloning impossible.
- Tokenization (DPAN) – real PAN never exposed.
- Biometric lock – Face ID/fingerprint required.
- Relay attacks blocked by motion sensors + latency AI (95 %+).
- Fraud migrated to online/CNP (phishing, deepfakes).
Specific 2025 incidents (rare but notable):
- Relay malware (SuperCard X/NGate) – Brazil/Italy – $5–$10M losses (targeted, low volume).
- Legacy terminal exploits – Mexico/DR rural – small-value hits.
- Deepfake support scams – combined with contactless – emerging but < 5 % of fraud.
Regional Breakdown (2025)
| Region | Contactless % | Fraud Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 90 %+ | < 0.08 % | Lowest – real-name + facial |
| US/EU | 80–85 % | < 0.15 % | Stable – tokenization |
| India/Brazil | 60–70 % | 0.2–0.4 % | Slight rise – growing adoption |
| Latin America | 50–60 % | 0.3–0.5 % | Higher on legacy terminals |
Bottom Line – December 2025
No widespread rise in contactless payment fraud – rates remain very low due to strong EMV security. Volume growth makes absolute losses higher, but percentage fraud is declining.Real threats: Deepfake social engineering + relay on old terminals (limited). Prevention: Biometric + tokenization + vigilance.
Contactless is one of the safest payment methods in 2025.
Stay safe. Your choice.
– Based on EMVCo, Juniper, FIS, Cleafy, ESET reports (2025).