Sumsub's Global Fraud Index has revealed that Asia-Pacific has dropped from third to fourth place globally in fraud protection amid rising exposure to fraudulent activities, including AI-powered ones.
The report, produced in collaboration with Statista and the Digital Assets Association (DAA) Singapore, underscores the widening gap between rapid digital growth and the implementation of fraud-prevention strategies to address increasingly sophisticated fraud.
"This year's Global Fraud Index shows that fraud protection isn't about geography; it's about governance. At the same time, fraudsters are getting their hands on increasingly powerful AI tools. What was once a niche threat has become commonplace", said Timothy Owens, tech and AI industry expert, and senior research lead, Technology and Telecommunications at Statista.
2025 Global Fraud Index
The report has revealed that the top APAC countries most protected against fraud are New Zealand (#7), Singapore (#10), Australia (#15), South Korea (#27), and Japan (#28). In contrast, Sri Lanka (#103), Bangladesh (#106), India (#109), Indonesia (#111), and Pakistan (#112) are the least protected against fraud.
New Zealand rose significantly from #12 in 2024 to #7 in 2025, and Thailandclimbed 25 positions (from #58 to #33) year-over-year.
However, some APAC countries' ranks fell, such as Singapore dropping nine places from #1 in 2024 to #10 in 2025; Japan, dropping 15 positions (from #13 to #28), and Indonesia declining 11 places (from #100 to #111). Malaysia experienced the most drastic decline, falling from #34 to #86.
"For technology leaders, the message is clear: treat fraud exposure like system uptime. It requires constant monitoring. Verification systems, information sharing between organisations, and robust incident response aren't optional anymore; they're fundamental components of operating in today's digital environment," added Owens.
