the Fraudian Slip Podcast: Gen – ITRC Predictions for 2026

Summary

• In 2025, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) predicted a boom in the cybercrime job market and the number of identity crimes, a reduction in support for victims and law enforcement, as well as a drop in criminal fines and forfeitures earmarked to help victims. The ITRC saw these predictions come true.
• As the ITRC looks ahead to 2026, the Center predicts that artificial intelligence-powered social engineering will drive a surge in hyper-personalized identity theft, as well as a resource scarcity and consumer confusion that will amplify victim harm.
• The ITRC predictions for 2026 also include a collapse in digital trust, a rise in fake ads and counterfeit shops, a new digital safety mindset, economic instability creating an “invisible victim” population and quantum computing threats forcing a shift in encryption standards, among others.
• The ITRC sat down with Melissa Voeller of Gen and the ITRC’s Board of Directors as they recapped some of the ITRC’s 2025 predictions and looked ahead at what we expect to see in the next calendar year.
• You can learn more about the ITRC’s predictions for 2026 and other topics discussed in this podcast, and download the full analysis by visiting https://www.idtheftcenter.org/identity-theft-resource-center-2026-predictions/.

Below is a transcript of our podcast with special guest Melissa Voeller of Gen and ITRC Board of Directors Member

Welcome to the Fraudian Slip, the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC’s) podcast, where we talk about all things identity theft, fraud and scams that impact people and businesses. We’ve once again come to the time of the year when otherwise normal businesspeople throw caution to the wind and turn to fortune-telling about what’s going to happen next year. It is time for the ITRC predictions for 2026. 

Before we gaze into the future, let’s blow the dust off the 2025 predictions to see how we did. Of the five predictions we made this time last year, we nailed five out of five, although at least one of those was the prediction equivalent of a card trick.

Now, it’s time to pull our crystal ball off the charger to predict what’s going to happen next year when it comes to identity theft, fraud and scams. We know you have a finite amount of time today, so we’re not going to cover all nine of the ITRC predictions for 2026. However, you can read about them, along with the scorecard of our predictions from last year, by clicking here.

Joining us in predicting the future is Melissa Voeller of Gen, the company behind Norton LifeLock, and a member of the ITRC Board of Directors. We also have, as always, the ITRC’s own CEO, Eva Velasquez.

ITRC Predictions for 2026 Discussed on the Podcast

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Social Engineering Will Drive a Surge in Hyper-Personalized Identity Theft
   1. The ‘Answer Engine’ Dilemma: AI Model Collapse Will Obscure Victim Support
   2. Agentic AI Will Introduce New Autonomous Cyber Threats and Defenses
2. Synthetic Identities, the Collapse of Digital Trust, and the Rise of Fake Ads & Counterfeit Shops
3. The Regulatory Landscape for AI and Data Privacy Will Become a Complex Global Patchwork
4. Quantum Computing Threats Will Force a Shift in Encryption Standards
5. A Focus on a Variety of Issues Will Create an “Invisible Victim” Population
6. The New Digital Safety Mindset

Download the ITRC’s 2026 Predictions

This is our last podcast of 2025. We’ll be back with Season 7 in January of this podcast and our sister podcast, the Weekly Breach Breakdown. In the meantime, you can learn more about how to avoid identity theft, fraud and scams, or get help if you have been the victim of an identity crime or compromise by visiting the ITRC’s website www.idtheftcenter.org.

Thanks to each of you who listen to our podcast and who come to the ITRC for support and information. Be sure to like this episode and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

From all of us at the ITRC, we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons with your friends and loved ones, and a safe, prosperous and secure 2026.