Global financial institutions are stepping up efforts to combat digital fraud following the launch of a new framework by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Bank of Thailand.
The framework, known as the “Bangkok Blueprint,” was unveiled during the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, to help countries prevent and respond to cyber-enabled financial fraud.
It outlines 12 key considerations covering national strategies, legal frameworks, fraud detection and recovery, cybersecurity, law enforcement, international cooperation and consumer protection.
The institutions warned that although digitalisation has expanded access to financial services, it has also increased the scale and sophistication of scams, causing significant losses to individuals and businesses.
They recommended stronger regulatory safeguards, improved information-sharing, coordinated investigations and cross-border cooperation to disrupt criminal networks and recover stolen funds.
The blueprint also calls for greater public awareness of fraud risks and stronger consumer protection mechanisms, including access to redress when scams occur.
The IMF and World Bank said countries should adapt the recommendations to their domestic circumstances, noting that the framework is non-prescriptive and does not constitute formal policy guidance from either institution.
