Asia-Pacific has slipped from third to fourth place globally in fraud protection, according to the 2025 Global Fraud Index released by Sumsub. The report highlights a growing vulnerability across some of the region’s most advanced digital economies, with Asia-Pacific now ranking just above Africa and behind Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
Produced in partnership with Statista and the Digital Assets Association (DAA) Singapore, the index assesses fraud risks across 112 countries. It is designed to help regulators, governments and businesses better understand exposure and strengthen defences against increasingly complex fraud schemes.
Decline in key markets despite regulatory efforts
While countries such as New Zealand and Thailand have improved their fraud protection scores, several major digital hubs have seen steep declines. Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia are among the markets whose rankings fell sharply over the past year, underlining the challenge of keeping fraud prevention in step with rapid digital growth.
“This year’s Global Fraud Index shows that fraud protection isn’t about geography, it’s about governance,” said Timothy Owens, Tech and AI Industry Expert and Senior Research Lead for Technology and Telecommunications at Statista. “At the same time, fraudsters are getting their hands on increasingly powerful AI tools. Verification systems, information sharing and strong incident response aren’t optional anymore; they’re essential to operating safely in today’s digital environment.”
Singapore, while dropping from first to tenth place overall, retained the global lead in the Government Intervention pillar. This reflects the city-state’s continued investment in anti-fraud frameworks and collaboration between public and private sectors, even as it faces more sophisticated threats.
Sharp ranking shifts across the region
The report shows significant movement in Asia-Pacific rankings. New Zealand rose from 12th to 7th place, and Thailand climbed 25 positions to 33rd. In contrast, Japan fell from 13th to 28th, Indonesia slipped from 100th to 111th, and Malaysia recorded the steepest drop, from 34th to 86th. Pakistan remained at the bottom of the global index for the second year.
Chia Hock Lai, Co-Chairman of the Digital Assets Association, warned of the broader implications for digital economies. “The decline in rankings for key APAC hubs like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia highlights a pressing need for a unified response to the growing threat of sophisticated fraud. This isn’t just about statistics; it’s about protecting businesses and building the trust necessary for the digital asset ecosystem to thrive.”
Penny Chai, Vice President for APAC at Sumsub, added that effective government action and collaboration with the private sector will be critical. “Rapid innovation is increasing exposure to sophisticated fraud. Strengthening anti-fraud strategies and maintaining consumer trust must be a top priority for digital economies.”
Expanding coverage and strengthening partnerships
The second edition of the Global Fraud Index expands its analysis to nine additional countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam. It combines Sumsub’s internal verification data with insights from organisations such as the World Bank, Transparency International and Oxford Insights to provide a comprehensive picture of fraud exposure and government response.
To support ongoing collaboration, Sumsub will host its first What The Fraud Summit in Singapore from 19 to 20 November. The event aims to advance public-private partnerships and share knowledge to strengthen fraud prevention across the region.
