SEON Survey: 65% of U.S. Consumers Blame AI Companies for Agent-Driven Fraud

SEON has released new research highlighting a significant trust gap in the adoption of AI agents for financial transactions. While 68% of U.S. adults use AI agents weekly, half remain uncomfortable with these tools accessing credit card details. For fintechs, this underscores a critical need for transparent fraud prevention as agents move from personal assistants to transactional tools.

What was announced

The survey of 2,026 U.S. adults explores the intersection of consumer behavior and AI agent integration. While 68% of respondents report using an AI agent at least once a week for personal tasks, a stark divide exists regarding financial autonomy. Half of all consumers (50%) expressed discomfort with an AI agent using their credit card details to complete a purchase, even if they requested it. This sentiment is heavily influenced by age: 65% of Boomers and 52% of Gen X are uncomfortable, compared to 47% of Gen Z and 34% of Millennials. Women also reported higher levels of discomfort than men, at 56% versus 43%.

Willingness to share data is highly selective. While 38% would share their location and 34% would share their purchase history or calendar access, only 15% are willing to share financial information with an AI agent. Millennials (23%) and Gen Z (22%) are significantly more open to sharing financial data than Boomers (4%). Notably, nearly a third of all respondents (32%) stated they would not share any information with an AI agent.

The research also highlights a significant accountability gap. If a fraudulent transaction were completed by an AI agent, 65% of consumers believe the company behind the agent should be held responsible. Only 14% would take personal responsibility, while 10% would look to their bank or card provider. This comes as 43% of consumers admit they lack confidence in their ability to judge the legitimacy of an agent’s request, and 39% distrust agents to recognize suspicious situations on their behalf.

"Consumers are comfortable letting AI agents help with everyday tasks, but trust drops quickly when money and identity are involved. Half say human support would increase their trust, and they’ve already decided who is accountable when agent-driven transactions go wrong,"

Tamas Kadar, CEO and Co-Founder, SEON

The companies involved

SEON operates as an AI-driven command center focused on fraud prevention and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance. The company provides real-time risk signals that allow businesses to evaluate activity across identity, device, and behavioral data points. By analyzing these signals, the firm aims to help organizations distinguish between legitimate customer instructions and fraudulent activity, particularly as automated agents become more prevalent in the digital economy.

The company has established a significant presence in the global fintech ecosystem, providing tools that help banks, payment providers, and e-commerce merchants mitigate risk without adding friction to the user experience. Its technology is designed to counter sophisticated threats, including those fueled by generative AI, by providing a more granular view of who is behind a transaction. With a focus on signal intelligence, the firm has positioned itself as a critical layer in the security stack for companies navigating the transition toward autonomous financial agents and automated consumer interactions.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has extensively covered SEON’s expansion and technical developments, with 36 stories documenting the company's growth. Recently, the firm announced a partnership with Yuno in SEON and Yuno Partner to Globalize AI-Driven Fraud Prevention and Payments Orchestration, focusing on global identity verification. The company has also made significant inroads into specific regional markets, as seen when DeeMoney Taps SEON for Real-Time Fraud Prevention in Thai Remittance Market and through its collaboration in SEON Partners with Exist Software Labs to Bolster Fraud Prevention in the Philippines. Furthermore, the company has actively updated its technical capabilities to meet emerging threats, detailed in SEON Bolsters Fraud Defense with 1,100+ Signals to Counter GenAI Threats.

What this means

The findings suggest a looming liability crisis for the AI industry. If 65% of consumers expect AI providers to swallow the cost of fraud, the current "use at your own risk" model for AI agents is fundamentally at odds with consumer expectations. This puts immense pressure on developers to integrate robust, real-time fraud detection before these agents can be viably used for commerce. Furthermore, the demand for human support (50%) as a trust-builder threatens to erode the cost-efficiency that makes AI agents attractive to businesses in the first place. The sector must now decide if it can provide the security guarantees consumers demand without sacrificing the benefits of automation.