Sri Lanka ranked among least protected nations against digital fraud

Sri Lanka has been ranked among the 15 least protected countries in the world against digital fraud, according to the 2025 Global Fraud Index released by global verification firm Sumsub, in collaboration with Statista and other international partners.

The index, which covers 112 countries, evaluates the effectiveness of fraud prevention measures based on governance, digital infrastructure, and institutional readiness.

Sri Lanka appears alongside nations such as Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Colombia, all of which are considered highly vulnerable to digital threats.

In contrast, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, and Norway lead the list of countries with the strongest protections in place. Europe dominates the top 15, with Singapore — last year’s leader — slipping to tenth place. The United States, despite having the highest government AI readiness globally, fell 36 places to rank 91st, while Malaysia dropped 52 places.

The report warns that fraud is no longer a regional issue, but a global challenge compounded by the misuse of advanced technologies like AI.

“Fraud protection isn’t about geography — it’s about governance. Fraudsters now have increasingly powerful AI tools at their disposal. What once was a niche threat has become commonplace,” said Timothy Owens, Senior Research Lead at Statista.

He stressed that organisations must treat fraud exposure with the same urgency as system uptime, calling for constant monitoring, robust verification systems, and better information sharing between institutions.

Sumsub’s findings are based on internal verification data and external sources, including the World Bank, Transparency International, and Oxford Insights, offering a comprehensive view of digital fraud risk globally.

“Fraud rates alone don’t tell the full story,” said Vitaliy Gribanov, Sumsub’s Senior Brand and Creative Director. “It’s essential to have a 360-degree view of the fraud landscape, both globally and locally.”

The 2025 Global Fraud Index aims to help regulators, businesses, and governments make data-driven decisions to protect citizens and institutions from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.