Global Banks Urged to Slow Down Scam Payments and Cover Fraud Victims

The IMF and the World Bank Group want banks to make it harder for scammers to move your money. In a new report, they suggest banks pause suspicious transfers and check who is receiving a payment before it goes through. They also want basic fraud protection built into banking, not sold as an extra.

What the report says

The report is called The Bangkok Blueprint for Fraud-Resilient Financial Services. It was launched at the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Thailand. It offers 12 policy recommendations across five areas, aimed at governments, regulators, banks and tech companies. Online fraud cases have nearly tripled over the past decade, and cyber incidents hitting the financial sector have risen tenfold.

The scale of the problem

• The Global Anti-Scam Alliance put worldwide fraud losses at nearly $500 billion in 2025.
• US consumers lost an estimated $195.9 billion in 2024, but only $12.7 billion was officially reported.
• Research suggests 50% to 70% of adults worldwide have faced an online scam attempt.
• People aged 29 to 60 are among those most often targeted.

How scams have changed

The report says criminals rely less on stolen passwords. Instead, they trick victims into sending the money themselves. Common versions include investment scams, crypto fraud, impersonation and fake online purchases. They work by creating fear, urgency and trust.

Artificial intelligence makes this easier. Criminals can fake voices, videos and identities to pose as a relative, a company executive, a government official or a celebrity. The report notes the same technology can also help banks spot unusual activity faster.

What banks may be asked to do

• Stronger sign-in checks and alerts on transactions.
• Verification of the person or business receiving a payment.
• Extra checks or short delays on suspicious transfers.
• Shared fraud-detection systems across banks.
• Simple reporting channels and clear rules on compensation for victims.

The report says protections must stay accessible to low-income consumers, older adults and people with limited digital skills.

What happens next

These are recommendations, not laws. The material does not say which countries will adopt them or when. The report also urges more cooperation across borders, pointing to INTERPOL's Operation First Light, which involved 61 countries and about $257 million in seized assets.