Digital payment fraud in Chile exceeds US$98 million in first half of 2026
Reports of fraud involving digital payment methods reached US$98 million in the first half of 2026, according to the Central Bank. Digital transactions grew 15% compared with the previous period.
Digital payments in Chile: transactions grow 15% while fraud exceeds US$98 million
Reports of fraud involving digital payment methods in Chile totalled US$98 million during the first half of 2026, considering only banking operations. The figure accompanies a 15% growth in the use of digital payments, which reached an average of 435 annual transactions per person over 15 years of age, according to portalmetropolitano.cl based on the Payment Systems Report (ISiP) presented by the Central Bank in August 2026.
The number of fraud reports also increased compared with the same period in 2025, although the report does not detail the exact percentage of the rise.
Accelerated expansion of the payments system
The penetration of electronic payment methods in local commerce also experienced significant progress. 72% of companies in the commerce, hotels and restaurants, and transport sectors have at least one acquiring services provider to accept cards. In 2015, that proportion did not reach 23%.
The president of the Central Bank, Rosanna Costa, noted that the system must advance upon the achievements made. To this end, she raised the need to "identify frictions and create conditions for the private sector to resolve them", with the aim of consolidating a secure and interoperable payments system.
Security versus user experience
The growth of digital transactions imposes new requirements on financial institutions. The challenge consists of strengthening the detection of suspicious operations without introducing obstacles that hinder everyday payments.
Artificial intelligence and real-time behavioural analysis present themselves as alternatives to face this scenario. These systems evaluate multiple variables in fractions of a second, identify unusual patterns and can detect possible fraud before an operation is completed, unlike rigid controls that generate delays.
Available market solutions combine different tools: identity verification, transaction analysis and real-time threat response. The integration of these mechanisms aims at more dynamic protection, which does not sacrifice the fluidity of the payment process.
The perspective of the technology industry
Topaz, a company from the Stefanini Group specialising in financial technology, proposes that institutions should address fraud prevention as part of a broader strategy that includes customer experience.
Jorge Iglesias, CEO of Topaz, highlighted the need to "expand the discussion on fraud towards the regional challenge of balancing real-time security and customer experience in increasingly digital banking".
Iglesias stressed that this approach takes on special relevance in the Chilean market. "In a market as dynamic as the Chilean one, where digital adoption is advancing strongly, financial institutions need technological allies that not only anticipate the threats of sophisticated fraud, but also guarantee that each user interaction remains fluid, natural and secure", he stated.
Topaz has tools aimed at fraud prevention, advanced biometrics and digital identity management, with the purpose of supporting financial entities in the face of risks in an increasingly connected environment.
A pending balance
The advance of digital payments broadens opportunities for people and companies, but also raises security requirements for the financial industry. The Central Bank data for the first half of 2026 illustrates the tension between the accelerated expansion of the system and the growing pressure of fraud.
Source: Google News CL — Crime