The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group have released the Bangkok Blueprint, a framework to help countries tackle cyber-enabled fraud in digital financial services.
Developed with the Bank of Thailand, it sets out 12 considerations to help authorities identify vulnerabilities. It also aims to support coordinated responses across sectors and borders.
The two institutions launched the Bangkok Blueprint on 14 October during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok. The launch took place in partnership with the Thai authorities.
According to the IMF and World Bank, digital finance has widened access and improved efficiency. However, it has also enabled fraud to occur faster, at greater scale and with greater sophistication.
The institutions cite INTERPOL, which ranks cyber-enabled fraud among the most threatening crimes globally. Other major threats include drug trafficking and money laundering.
Cyber-enabled fraud is increasingly linked to transnational organised crime, the institutions said. By encouraging a consistent approach across sectors and jurisdictions, they aim to strengthen trust in digital financial services and protect their role in growth and financial inclusion.
“Cyber-enabled fraud has become a global challenge that no country or institution can tackle alone. The Bangkok Blueprint reflects our shared commitment to strengthen cooperation, build trust, and promote a safe and inclusive digital financial future for all,”
said Vitai Ratanakorn, Governor, Bank of Thailand.
The framework groups its 12 considerations under five pillars.
These cover strategic and legal foundations, the fraud-mitigation life cycle, the use of existing risk-mitigation and enforcement frameworks, domestic and cross-border cooperation, and consumer protection and resilience.
Fraud schemes often run through social media, digital platforms, e-commerce sites and telecommunications networks.
For that reason, the Blueprint calls for clear accountability and timely cooperation between the public and private sectors, both at home and across borders.
“Trust is the foundation of every financial system. As digital finance expands, countries must work together to combat cyber-enabled fraud and preserve confidence in the technologies that support growth and inclusion,”
said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF.
The Bangkok Blueprint encourages each country to adapt the 12 considerations to its own legal, institutional and market conditions.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by IMF
