IMF and World Bank Unveil Bangkok Blueprint Framework to Fight Cyber-Enabled Fraud

Key facts

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank released the 'Bangkok Blueprint for Fraud-Resilient Financial Services', a framework to tackle cyber-enabled fraud, launched at the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok.
• The framework is aimed at assisting policymakers, regulators, financial institutions and other stakeholders, but is not formal IMF-World Bank policy guidance.
• Thai Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said digital fraud and scams cost the world economy around $1 trillion annually, or 3% of GDP.
• According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, scam gangs defrauded Asia Pacific residents of at least $88 billion in 2025.
• Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said Asia accounted for 67% of global fraud losses in 2024.
• IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the expansion of cyber fraud threatens to reverse gains made by digital finance in expanding financial inclusion.