The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), two of the world’s leading multilateral financial institutions, have unveiled a new framework designed to help nations tackle the rising danger of cyber-enabled fraud across digital financial services.
Named the Bangkok Blueprint, the high-level guidance was drawn up by the leadership of both organisations working alongside the Bank of Thailand.
It gives countries a structure for stopping, spotting and responding to fraudulent activity that exploits digital finance. The framework was launched at the 2026 IMF–WBG Annual Meetings in collaboration with Thai authorities, and it sets out 12 key considerations that governments can use to pinpoint weaknesses and build joined-up responses.
The guidance rests on five pillars. These cover laying strategic and legal groundwork, reinforcing each stage of the fraud-mitigation life cycle, making use of existing risk-mitigation and enforcement regimes, deepening cooperation at home and internationally, and bolstering consumer protection and resilience.
Because fraudulent schemes frequently exploit social media, online platforms, e-commerce and telecoms networks, the Blueprint calls for well-defined responsibility and prompt collaboration between public bodies and private firms, within national borders and beyond them. Countries are urged to adapt the 12 considerations to suit their own legal systems, institutions and market environments.
The initiative comes as the growth of digital finance, while widening access and driving innovation and efficiency, has allowed fraudsters to operate faster, at larger volumes and with greater sophistication.
Cyber-enabled fraud is increasingly tied to transnational organised crime, and INTERPOL places it among the most serious global criminal threats, on a par with drug trafficking and money laundering. By encouraging a more consistent approach across industries and jurisdictions, the Blueprint aims to reinforce confidence in digital financial services so they can keep supporting economic growth and inclusion.
Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn said, “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.”
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said, “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.”
World Bank Group managing director and chief financial officer Anshula Kant said, “Digital financial services can be a powerful driver of economic opportunity, jobs, and financial inclusion in developing economies. Strengthening protection against fraud is essential to ensuring that people can use these services with confidence and fully benefit from the opportunities they create.”
Thailand deputy prime minister and finance minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said, “As digital finance becomes increasingly interconnected, our response to fraud must be equally connected. The Bangkok Blueprint provides a foundation for stronger cooperation and collective action to protect citizens and strengthen trust in the digital economy.”
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