Fraud Risks For Expats | William Russell

Fraud can happen anywhere, but relocating abroad can create situations that make scams harder to spot. Expats often need to secure accommodation, arrange employment, open bank accounts and share important documents before arriving in a new country, sometimes without the opportunity to verify organisations or individuals in person.

From fake property listings and employment scams to phishing messages and identity theft, fraudsters frequently target situations where people are under pressure to make quick decisions. Alongside practical preparations such as arranging international health insurance, taking time to understand potential risks can help expats make safer decisions before and after their move.

To explore where these risks may be greatest, we created the Global Fraud Hotspots Report, analysing recorded fraud rates, cyber-related fraud, cybercrime activity, identity theft, reported financial losses and fraud-related legislation from around the world.

Global Fraud Hotspots

Key findings:

Finland has the highest recorded overall fraud rate in the dataset, at 1,263.65 incidents per 100,000 people, despite ranking among the world’s safest and most trusted countries.
Singapore has the highest recorded rate of cyber-related fraud, at 905.24 incidents per 100,000 people.
Ukraine ranks highest on the World Cybercrime Index, with a score of 36.44.
Identity theft accounts for 6.02% of Sumsub-detected fraud cases in Indonesia, the highest share in the supplied dataset.
Phishing and spoofing received the highest number of complaints in the IC3 report, at 191,561.
Investment fraud caused the greatest reported losses, totalling US$8.65 billion.
Panama has the highest number of fraud-related legislative extracts in the dataset, at 24.
Expats arranging accommodation before they relocate may also be particularly exposed to rental scams, as deposits and other payments are often arranged remotely before they have viewed a property or met the landlord in person.

A young couple sitting on the sofa with their laptop worried that they've just fallen victim to fraud

The Global Fraud Hotspots Report

Moving to a new country often means navigating unfamiliar financial systems, rental markets, government procedures and online services. While these processes are legitimate, they can also create opportunities for fraudsters to exploit uncertainty, urgency or a lack of local knowledge.

To identify destinations where expats may face greater fraud-related risks, we analysed a range of international datasets covering:

Recorded fraud rates
Cyber-related fraud
Cybercrime activity
Identity theft
Fraud-related financial losses
Legislative responses to fraud

Together, these indicators provide a broader view of the global fraud landscape, helping to highlight where fraud is most commonly recorded, which risks are most prevalent, and the steps expats can take to better protect themselves when relocating abroad.

The figures in this report do not show fraud committed specifically against expats. Instead, they highlight broader fraud patterns that may help international residents understand potential risks, compare destinations and identify appropriate precautions before relocating abroad.

Why can expats be particularly vulnerable to fraud?

Fraud can affect anyone, but relocating abroad may create circumstances that make fraudulent requests harder to detect.

Before moving, expats often communicate with landlords, recruiters and service providers entirely online. They may not be able to visit a property, meet an employer or verify an organisation in person before being asked to transfer money or provide personal documents.

Language barriers can create further difficulties. Official-looking communications may be harder to assess when they are written in an unfamiliar language, while local banking, tax and residency procedures may differ significantly from those in someone’s home country.

The pressure to complete a move can also influence decision-making. Someone who urgently needs accommodation, employment or a visa appointment may be more likely to respond quickly to a request without checking it through a second source.

Personal information can be particularly exposed during this period. Expats often hand over records like:

Passport copies
Proof of address
Bank statements
Employment records

These all may be shared with several organisations as part of legitimate applications. A fraudulent landlord or employer can imitate these processes to obtain documents that could later be used for identity theft.

After arriving, expats may still be learning how government departments, banks and healthcare providers normally make contact. This can make impersonation scams more convincing, particularly where a message claims that immediate action is required to avoid a fine, account closure or immigration problem.

Which countries have the highest recorded fraud rates?

Recorded fraud rates provide one way to compare the scale of reported offences across countries with different population sizes. Using data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, we ranked countries by their recorded rate of fraud per 100,000 people.

These figures reflect offences recorded by national authorities. They should not be treated as a complete measure of how much fraud occurs, as results may be influenced by differences in legal definitions, reporting practices, enforcement systems, and the public’s willingness or ability to report an offence.

The most recent year in the dataset was used for each country.

Countries with the highest recorded fraud rates

Finland
Spain
Singapore
Germany
Austria
Brazil
Italy
France
Canada
Mongolia

1/ Finland

Finland has the world’s highest recorded fraud rate, with more than 1,200 offences per 100,000 people

Finland ranks first in the dataset, recording 1,263.65 fraud offences per 100,000 people in 2024*.

Its position may be surprising, particularly as Finland is often perceived as a safe and well-governed country. It sits ahead of every other destination analysed and is one of only two countries in the table with a rate above 1,000.

However, higher recorded fraud rates can also reflect stronger reporting systems, broader legal definitions and higher levels of crime reporting, rather than higher underlying levels of fraud.

This means Finland’s position should be viewed as a measure of recorded offences, rather than a direct indication that people there are more likely to experience fraud than elsewhere.

For expats, the finding shows why fraud risk should not be overlooked in destinations generally perceived as secure. Unexpected payment requests and requests for personal information should still be verified independently.

2/ Spain

Spain places second, with one of the highest recorded fraud rates among popular expat destinations

Spain has the second-highest recorded fraud rate in the study, at 1,079.66 offences per 100,000 people.

Its position is also notable given its popularity as an expat destination, with 626,268 people moving to the country from overseas in 2024. Spain ranks second for both overall recorded fraud and cyber-related fraud, suggesting that online offences form a significant part of its wider fraud landscape.

This may be particularly relevant to people arranging accommodation, employment or other services remotely. Fake property listings, phishing messages and altered payment instructions can appear convincing when someone is unfamiliar with local processes.

Expats should independently verify properties, payment details and the identity of anyone requesting money, especially where pressure is applied to act quickly.

3/ Singapore

Singapore comes third overall and records the highest cyber-related fraud rate

Singapore places third for recorded fraud, with 955.70 offences per 100,000 people.

It also records the highest cyber-related fraud rate in the study, at 905.24 offences per 100,000 people, making its position particularly notable.

The finding is especially significant in a country where 99% of government transactions are completed online, and authorities have introduced extensive anti-scam enforcement and prevention measures. Strong detection and reporting may also make more offences visible within official figures.

For expats managing banking, accommodation and employment online, this reinforces the need to question convincing requests rather than looking only for obvious signs of hacking. A message can appear genuine while still being designed to persuade the recipient to authorise a payment.

Top 10 countries with the highest recorded fraud rates

Finland

1,263.65

Spain

1,079.66

Singapore

955.70

Germany

882.76

Austria

876.05

Brazil

728.75

Italy

728.08

France

520.74

Canada

517.00

Mongolia

457.17

Source: Sumsub’s Identity Fraud Report 2024

Note: Higher recorded fraud rates do not necessarily indicate that a country is less safe. Differences in reporting practices, legal definitions, enforcement activity and public willingness to report fraud can all influence official crime statistics.

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Where are expats most at risk of cybercrime?

Cyber-enabled fraud can be particularly difficult to recognise because it can reach victims regardless of where the offender is located.

Phishing messages, fake websites, account takeover attempts and impersonation scams can all be delivered remotely. Expats may be especially exposed while arranging their move online or communicating with unfamiliar organisations.

We analysed two separate measures to explore this risk:

The UNODC rate of recorded cyber-related fraud offences per 100,000 people
The World Cybercrime Index, which measures countries associated with different forms of cybercriminal activity

These datasets should not be treated as interchangeable. The first measures recorded cyber-related fraud within a country, while the second considers countries associated with the production and organisation of cybercrime.

Countries where expats are most at risk of cybercrime

Singapore
Spain
Malta
France
Germany
Mongolia
Poland
Costa Rica
Scotland
Austria

Singapore and Spain have the highest recorded cyber-related fraud rates

Singapore has the highest recorded cyber-related fraud rate, at 905.24 offences per 100,000 people. Spain follows with 861.71 per 100,000 people.

Both countries also appear in the top three for overall recorded fraud, showing that cyber-related offences form an important part of their recorded fraud landscapes.

Malta places third, at 344.32 recorded offences per 100,000 people, followed by France at 303.58 and Germany at 253.34.

These figures show that cyber-related fraud is not limited to the countries most commonly associated with organised cybercriminal activity. It can also be widely recorded in established expat destinations with highly connected populations and extensive use of online services.

For people relocating abroad, cyber safety should begin before departure. Email accounts used for visa, property and employment applications should be protected with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Payment details should also be confirmed through a separate communication method before money is transferred.

Top 10 countries where expats are most at risk of cybercrime

Singapore

905.24

Spain

861.71

Malta

344.32

France

303.58

Germany

253.34

Mongolia

247.47

Poland

239.81

Costa Rica

213.57

Scotland

180.14

Austria

177.53

Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and World Cybercrime Index

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Which countries are most strongly associated with cybercrime?

Ukraine tops the World Cybercrime Index, followed by China and the US

The World Cybercrime Index measures something different from the recorded cyber-related fraud rate above. While the UNODC data shows where cyber-related fraud offences are recorded, this index highlights the countries most strongly associated with producing cybercriminal activity.

This distinction matters because cybercrime often crosses borders. An offender operating from one country may target victims in several others, meaning the places where cybercrime originates and where fraud is reported can look very different.

Ukraine ranks first on the World Cybercrime Index, with a score of 36.44. China places second with 27.86, followed by the United States with 25.01.

Nigeria ranks fourth with a score of 21.28, while Romania completes the top five at 14.83. The United Kingdom places sixth, with a score of 9.01.

Countries most strongly associated with cybercrime activity

Ukraine

36.44

China

27.86

United States

25.01

Nigeria

21.28

Romania

14.83

United Kingdom

9.01

Brazil

8.93

India

6.13

Iran

4.78

Belarus

3.87

Source: World Cybercrime Index

High cybercrime activity does not always translate into a high recorded victim rate

The two datasets reveal very different sides of cybercrime risk.

Ukraine tops the World Cybercrime Index, and the United States ranks third, yet neither appears among the 10 countries with the highest recorded cyber-related fraud rates in the UNODC data.
Singapore shows the opposite pattern—it has the highest recorded cyber-related fraud rate, but does not appear among the leading countries in the World Cybercrime Index.

Rather than being contradictory, these findings reflect the cross-border nature of cybercrime. The country associated with producing cybercriminal activity may be very different from the country where an offence is ultimately recorded.

For expats, this means a fraudulent message could originate from almost anywhere. The most important question is not where it appears to come from, but whether the request and sender can be independently verified.

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The most common and costly types of fraud

Fraud risks are not limited to one method. Some scams aim to steal personal information, while others persuade victims to transfer money or provide access to an account.

Data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center provides an indication of the fraud types most frequently reported to IC3 and the financial losses associated with them.

While these figures are based on complaints submitted to IC3 rather than worldwide fraud totals, they offer a useful picture of the scams generating the greatest volume of reports and the most significant reported losses.

This can help expats recognise the types of fraud that may require particular caution when managing money, employment and personal information abroad.

What do these fraud types mean?

Phishing: Fraudulent messages designed to trick people into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links or making payments.
Spoofing: When a scammer disguises their identity by impersonating a trusted organisation, email address, phone number, or website.
Extortion: Fraud or criminal activity where someone uses threats, intimidation, or the risk of harm, data exposure, or service disruption to demand money, information, or other benefits.
Investment fraud: Scams that persuade people to invest money with the false promise of high returns, when the funds may instead be stolen or misused.
Non-payment/non-delivery fraud: Fraud where goods or services are paid for but never delivered, or where goods or services are provided but payment is never received.
Tech or customer-support fraud: Scams where someone poses as a legitimate support provider and claims there is a problem requiring payment, account access or personal information.
Government impersonation: Fraud where someone pretends to represent a government department or public authority to demand money, personal information, or both.
Identity theft: The use of someone else’s personal information without permission, often to access accounts, obtain financial products, or commit fraud.
Business email compromise: Fraud where criminals impersonate or compromise a genuine business contact to redirect payments or obtain sensitive information.
Employment fraud: Fake job opportunities or recruitment processes designed to obtain money, personal information or access to accounts.

The most common types of fraud

Phishing and spoofing receive more complaints than any other fraud type

Phishing and spoofing generated 191,561 complaints, the highest number of any category in the IC3 data.

These scams often imitate legitimate organisations, using urgent messages about bank accounts, tax, insurance or immigration. For expats, they can be harder to spot when they appear to come from unfamiliar local services.

Tech and customer-support scams generated 47,794 complaints, while government impersonation received 32,424. Employment fraud also accounted for 24,688 complaints, highlighting the need to verify overseas job offers, payment requests and email addresses independently.

Before clicking a link, sharing information or transferring money, expats should contact the organisation through details found separately rather than those included in the message.

Fraud types most frequently reported to IC3

Phishing/Spoofing

191,561

Extortion

89,129

Investment

72,984

Personal Data Breach

67,456

Non-Payment/Non-Delivery

56,478

Tech/Customer Support

47,794

Government Impersonation

32,424

Identity Theft

31,675

Business Email Compromise

24,768

Employment

24,688

Source: IC3 2025 Report

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The most costly types of fraud

Fraud types causing the greatest reported losses

Investment fraud causes the greatest reported losses, at US$8.65 billion

Investment fraud caused US$8.65 billion in reported losses, the highest amount of any fraud category in the IC3 data.

It was followed by business email compromise, with losses of US$3.05 billion, and tech or customer-support fraud, with US$2.13 billion.

These scams often rely on:

Promises of high returns
Time pressure
A gradual effort to build trust before a larger payment is requested

Business email compromise is particularly easy to fall for. It caused US$3.05 billion in reported losses and can be as simple as a convincing email claiming that bank details have changed before a property deposit, invoice or other major payment is due.

Because these messages may appear to come from a genuine contact or continue an existing conversation, there may be few obvious warning signs.

Expats should confirm any change to payment details through a separate channel using contact information they already trust.

Fraud types causing the greatest reported losses

Investment

$8.65 billion

Business Email Compromise

$3.05 billion

Tech/Customer Support

$2.13 billion

Personal Data Breach

$1.31 billion

Confidence/Romance

$929.29 million

Government Impersonation

$797.94 million

Other

$512.15 million

Non-Payment/Non-Delivery

$503.37 million

Data Breach

$435.24 million

Employment

$362.93 million

Source: IC3 2025 Report

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Identity theft makes up the largest share of Sumsub-detected fraud in Indonesia

Identity theft represents 6.02% of Sumsub-detected fraud cases associated with Indonesia, the highest share in the supplied dataset.

Nigeria places second at 5.91%, followed by Algeria at 5.78%, Tanzania at 5.39% and Madagascar at 4.92%.

These figures are based on Sumsub’s own fraud data. They do not show the proportion of residents or expats who experience identity theft and should not be interpreted as national identity-theft crime rates.

Identity theft may begin when someone obtains a passport copy, bank statement, proof of address or other personal information. Relocating expats may be asked to provide these documents as part of genuine employment, tenancy, insurance or residency checks, making it important to verify who is receiving them.

Documents should only be shared when the organisation, recipient and reason for the request have been confirmed. Where possible, secure upload systems should be used instead of sending sensitive information through an unverified email or messaging account.

Countries with the highest share of Sumsub-detected fraud

Indonesia

6.02%

Nigeria

5.91%

Algeria

5.78%

Tanzania

5.39%

Madagascar

4.92%

Chad

4.76%

Argentina

4.74%

Uganda

4.53%

Latvia

4.35%

Pakistan

4.28%

Source: Sumsub’s Identity Fraud Report 2024

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Which countries have the largest number of recorded fraud-related legislative extracts?

Fraud-related legislative extracts are individual parts of a country’s laws that deal with fraud or related offences. In simple terms, they are the different rules within a country’s legal system that set out what counts as fraud and how fraud-related offences are addressed.

Panama has 24 fraud-related legislative extracts recorded in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) SHERLOC database, the highest number in the supplied data.

Algeria places second with 20, while Andorra and Bulgaria each have 18. Albania, Kenya and Monaco each have 16.

These figures show how much fraud-related legislation is documented for each country, rather than how strong or effective those laws are.

A higher number of extracts does not necessarily mean that fraud is better prevented, more successfully prosecuted or more likely to result in compensation for victims.

For expats, the practical takeaway is to understand how and where fraud should be reported locally, rather than assuming that more legislation automatically means greater protection.

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How can expats protect themselves from fraud?

Fraud prevention often starts with slowing down and checking an unexpected request through a second, independent source.

Scammers frequently create a sense of urgency, claiming that a property will be offered to someone else, a visa will be cancelled or an account will be restricted unless you act immediately.

If you receive an important request, take time to verify it directly with the organisation before taking action.

Steps expats should take before and after relocating to help protect themselves from fraud

Verify accommodation before paying – Check the property, landlord or agent independently. Where possible, arrange a viewing, ask for a written contract and avoid transferring money if someone refuses to verify their identity or demands an immediate deposit.
Check employers carefully – Use the company’s official website, email domain and recruitment channels to confirm that the role and contact are genuine. Be cautious of unexplained upfront fees for jobs, visas, training or equipment.
Confirm payment requests separately – If bank details change or an urgent payment is requested, contact the organisation using a number or email address found independently before transferring money.
Protect personal documents and accounts – Only share passports, bank statements and proof of address when the recipient and purpose have been verified. Use secure portals where possible, strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Verify essential providers – Check banks, insurers and relocation companies through official websites and relevant regulatory records. When arranging services such as international health insurance, confirm that documents and payment details come from the legitimate provider.
Know how local organisations communicate – Learn how banks, government bodies and other institutions normally contact residents. Avoid relying on links or contact details included in unexpected messages.
Report suspected fraud quickly – Keep copies of messages, contracts and payment records. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately, then report the incident to the relevant police, cybercrime or fraud-reporting authority.

William Cooper
Director and Co-Owner at William Russell says…

“Relocating abroad often involves making important decisions before you are fully familiar with the organisations, processes and warning signs in your new country. Expats may be arranging accommodation, employment, insurance and banking remotely, sometimes while working to a tight deadline.

Fraudsters can exploit that uncertainty by creating a false sense of urgency or presenting themselves as a trusted landlord, employer or financial provider.

Taking additional time to verify requests independently can be one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk.”

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Common fraud warning signs

While fraud techniques vary, many scams share the same warning signs.

If you encounter one or more of the indicators below, take time to verify the request independently before sending money, sharing information or taking action.

Look out for

Pressure to make a payment or decision immediately
Requests to send money to new or unexpected bank details
Requests for passports, bank statements or other sensitive documents without a clear reason
Offers, rentals or investments that appear unusually cheap or promise unusually high returns
Refusal to verify an identity, property, employer or organisation independently
Messages claiming there will be serious consequences if you do not act straight away
Unexpected links, attachments or requests to move a conversation onto another platform
Payment instructions that suddenly change during an existing email conversation

Fraud risk employers should consider when relocating staff overseas

Fraud during an international relocation can affect employers as well as the employee making the move. Staff may be arranging accommodation, visas and relocation services remotely, while businesses may also be processing new suppliers, invoices and payment details on their behalf.

For companies managing international assignments, building fraud checks into the relocation process can help protect employees while reducing the risk of delays and financial losses.

Relocation scams can target employees before they arrive

Employees moving internationally may encounter fake rental listings, impersonated relocation providers, fraudulent visa requests or employment-related scams.

Accommodation can be a particular pressure point when employees need to secure housing in advance. A convincing fake listing or fraudulent deposit request could leave an employee out of pocket and disrupt the wider relocation, particularly where family members are moving too.

Employers can help by providing relocating staff with a clear list of approved providers and explaining how legitimate accommodation, visa, and relocation payments should be handled.

Business email compromise can make genuine payments difficult to verify

Business email compromise caused US$3.05 billion in reported losses in the IC3 data, making it the second-costliest fraud type analysed.

During a relocation, a fraudulent email could imitate a genuine supplier or contact and claim that bank details have changed for a relocation invoice, accommodation deposit or other payment. Similar tactics could also be used to request changes to payroll information.

Because these messages can appear in genuine-looking email conversations, businesses should require that important changes to payment details be verified through a separate, trusted channel.

How can employers protect staff relocating overseas?

Businesses supporting globally mobile employees can introduce additional checks before an assignment begins, including:

Providing fraud-awareness guidance before employees relocate
Giving staff verified details for approved relocation providers and other suppliers
Establishing clear procedures for checking new or amended payment details
Warning employees about known scam risks in their destination
Giving staff a clear internal contact if they receive a suspicious request

Supporting employees through an international move can extend beyond fraud prevention. Employers managing overseas teams may also want to consider how their broader international employee benefits package supports employees and their families while they live and work abroad.

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Expat Fraud Risks

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common fraud risks for expats?

Expats can be particularly vulnerable to fraud because they may be unfamiliar with local laws, systems and customs, or may need to deal with unfamiliar businesses and services from abroad.

Common risks include:

Phishing and online scams: Fraudsters may use emails, text messages or fake websites to steal personal or financial information.
Rental and property scams: Fake landlords or property listings can target people looking for accommodation, particularly when arranging a move from overseas.
Employment scams: Fraudsters may advertise fake jobs or request personal information or payment as part of a bogus recruitment process.
Banking and payment fraud: Expats may be targeted by requests for urgent payments, fake bank details or fraudulent requests appearing to come from employers, landlords or other trusted contacts.
Immigration and visa scams: Fake agents or websites may offer visa, residency or other immigration services in exchange for fees or personal information.
Identity theft: Personal documents such as passports, visas and proof of address can be valuable to fraudsters if they are stolen or shared insecurely.

Being aware of common scams, checking who you are dealing with and avoiding unexpected requests for money or sensitive information can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud.

What types of fraud are expats most likely to experience?

There is no single global dataset showing which fraud types affect expats most often.

However, people relocating abroad may encounter risks involving phishing, identity theft, fraudulent accommodation, fake employment opportunities, government impersonation and unexpected financial requests.

IC3 data shows that phishing and spoofing received the highest number of complaints, at 191,561. Investment fraud caused the greatest reported losses, totalling US$8.65 billion.

These figures relate to reports made to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and are not specific to expats or global fraud as a whole.

Why are expats sometimes targeted?

Expats can be targeted by fraudsters because they are often unfamiliar with the organisations, payment processes and administrative systems in their new country.

They may also need to arrange accommodation, employment and essential services remotely, creating opportunities for scammers to impersonate legitimate providers.

Language barriers, time pressure and the need to share identity documents can make fraudulent requests more difficult to identify.

What should you do if you become a victim of fraud overseas?

If you suspect you have been scammed, acting quickly can help limit further losses.

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the fraud and ask whether any transactions can be stopped or recalled.
Secure any affected accounts by changing passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication and freezing cards or accounts where necessary.
Report the incident locally to the police, cybercrime unit or relevant fraud-reporting authority in the country where you are living.
Keep evidence, including emails, messages, call logs, receipts, bank details and screenshots, as these may be needed by banks or investigators.
Check for wider compromise if personal documents or account details have been shared, and monitor other financial accounts for suspicious activity.

To reduce the risk of further fraud, be cautious of anyone who contacts you afterwards claiming they can recover lost money for an upfront fee, and continue verifying unexpected requests through independent contact details.

How can you safely verify accommodation, employers, or financial requests before relocating?

Accommodation can be checked through independent property records, established letting agents, live viewings and written contracts. Avoid transferring a deposit solely on the basis of photographs or messages supplied by the person advertising the property.

An employer can be verified through its official website, company records and established recruitment contacts. Be cautious where a role is offered without a credible interview or where payment is required to secure the position.

Financial requests should be confirmed using contact details found independently. Never assume that a request is genuine simply because it appears in an existing email conversation or includes familiar personal information.

Be wary of websites that create a sense of urgency, request unusual payment methods or ask for more personal information than you would reasonably expect.

Can expats be victims of fraud from their home country?

Yes. Living overseas does not protect you from fraud originating in your home country. Expats can receive fraudulent messages or calls claiming to come from banks, government departments, businesses or other organisations they previously used.

Fraudsters may also use information about your previous country of residence to make a scam appear more convincing. Treat unexpected requests for money or personal information with the same caution, whether they come from your current country or your home country.

How can expats protect themselves from identity theft?

Keep important documents such as passports, identity cards and visas secure, and avoid sharing copies unless they are genuinely required. When you do need to provide personal information, check who is requesting it, why they need it and how it will be stored or used.

It is also important to secure your online accounts with strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication. Be cautious about sharing personal details on social media, as information such as your address, date of birth or workplace can sometimes be used by fraudsters to impersonate you.

This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as a definitive assessment of fraud risk in any country. Fraud risks, laws and regulations vary between countries and can change over time.

If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank or relevant financial provider and the appropriate authorities in your country of residence.

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Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind

Moving abroad can be an exciting opportunity, but living in an unfamiliar country can also come with challenges, from navigating new systems to understanding local laws and knowing who you can trust.

Being aware of common fraud risks and taking simple steps to protect your personal information, finances and identity can help you feel more confident wherever you choose to live. Having the right protection in place can also give you greater peace of mind when you’re living far from home.

At William Russell, we’ve been helping expatriates protect themselves and their families overseas for over 30 years. Our international health insurance provides worldwide cover, helping you access quality healthcare wherever life takes you.

Terms & conditions apply to our insurance products and services. You can find full details of what our plans cover (and what they don’t cover) in our plan agreements.

Take one thing off your mind with international health insurance you can rely on

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Methodology

William Russell provides international health, life, and income protection insurance to people living and working abroad. With over 30 years of experience supporting individuals, families and global professionals, we help expats access quality healthcare, safeguard their income, and plan for a secure future wherever they choose to live.

To identify the global fraud hotspots expats should be aware of, we compared countries using several separate indicators covering recorded fraud, cyber-related fraud, cybercriminal activity, identity theft and fraud-related legislation.

The following factors were used:

Recorded fraud rate per 100,000 people sourced from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Recorded cyber-related fraud rate per 100,000 people sourced from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
World Cybercrime Index score sourced from the World Cybercrime Index
Complaints per fraud type sourced from the IC3 2025 Report
Total amount lost per fraud type sourced from the IC3 2025 Report
Identity theft as a share of fraud cases sourced from Sumsub’s Identity Fraud Report 2024 (*The 2024 report was used because it contains the country-level identity theft breakdown required for this analysis)
Fraud-related legislative extracts sourced from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime SHERLOC database

IC3 data reflects reported complaints and should not be interpreted as global prevalence.

Sumsub percentages are based on its own data rather than overall national crime rates, while legislative extracts measure documented legal attention relating to fraud rather than the strength of legal protection.

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Fraud Risks For Expats: Which Countries Have The Highest Fraud Rates?