AI‑enabled fraud and ransomware attacks rise sharply in France

Document fraud in Europe is becoming industrialised through artificial intelligence, allowing anyone to create convincing fake pay slips, residence certificates or bank statements in minutes. A study cited by Marc de Beaucorps notes that 6‑14 % of Europeans admit to having forged an official document, and nearly one in four felt no fear when doing so.

In France, ransomware attacks are also becoming more potent thanks to AI. Proofpoint’s 2026 report finds that 65 % of French organisations say AI has increased the effectiveness of ransomware, with 35 % of employees trusting AI‑generated phishing attempts and 33 % interacting with malicious content. Over half (51 %) of victims reported data theft, and 44 % of those who paid were hit with further ransom demands. Loïc Guézo, Proofpoint’s cyber‑strategy director, says, “AI has not fundamentally changed ransomware, but it has dramatically improved the attacks that lead to it.”