Financial fraud is most likely to be attempted by which type of threat actor?

Financial fraud is most commonly associated with organized crime due to the structured and often large-scale nature of their operations. Organized crime groups typically have the resources, sophistication, and financial motivation to conduct elaborate schemes that can include identity theft, credit card fraud, and various forms of cybercrime targeting financial institutions or individuals. Their operations are often well-planned and executed, utilizing sophisticated tools and techniques to bypass security measures and achieve their goals.

In contrast, other types of threat actors, while they may also engage in malicious activities, are generally not as focused on financial gain through systematic fraud. Competitors might engage in corporate espionage but do not primarily focus on financial fraud. Script kiddies tend to be less experienced and may adopt existing exploits for petty reasons rather than orchestrating sophisticated fraudulent schemes. Hacktivists typically target organizations to promote a political agenda or social cause rather than for financial reasons. Thus, the organized crime element stands out as the most likely source of financial fraud attempts, given their capacity and intent to profit from such activities.