According to ACCA\u2019s new report, Combatting fraud in a
\nperfect storm, organisations across Asia-Pacific are contending with a diverse and
\nfast-evolving fraud landscape, shaped by procurement fraud (34%), bribery and
\ncorruption (20%), and growing blind spots in crypto fraud and ESG
\nmisrepresentation. Rapid innovation in digital payments and super-app platforms
\nhas expanded attack surfaces, with AI-enabled deception accelerating the speed
\nand sophistication of fraud across the region.
\nCultural dynamics remain a defining factor. In many Asia-Pacific markets, openly
\ndiscussing fraud is still perceived as disloyalty, and hierarchical norms discourage
\nwhistleblowing. Independence of investigators and clear protections against
\nretaliation are therefore critical, particularly for junior staff, who reported the highest
\nlevels of concern.
\nDrawing on responses from over 2,000 professionals and 31 roundtable discussions
\naround the world, the study \u2013 launched during International Fraud Awareness Week
\n\u2013 underscores the need to embed behavioural risk assessments and align fraud-
\nprevention efforts with local cultural realities. Conventional controls alone are no
\nlonger sufficient in a region where technological change is reshaping financial,
\ncommercial and consumer ecosystems at speed.
\nRegional survey results show reporting ease averaging 3.82\/5, with junior staff the
\nmost concerned about retaliation, highlighting a persistent imbalance in power
\ndynamics that restricts upward reporting. Respondents emphasised the importance
\nof culturally attuned governance, transparency of process, and leadership-led
\naccountability to build trust.<\/p>\n
In collaboration with ACFE, IIA, CISI, ISC2, Airmic and ACi, the report introduces a new
\nPrevalence vs Materiality matrix lens to help organisations make better decisions
\nabout allocating resources before fraud diminishes them. Through its companion
\nCalls to Action and Thematic Typology, the report also provides new guidance on
\nassessing what works and doesn\u2019t \u2013 and crucially how to incorporate behavioural
\ninsights into risk governance, moving fraud prevention from compliance theatre to
\noperational reality.
\nKey regional findings:
\n\uf0b7 Procurement fraud (34%) and bribery and corruption (20%) are major
\nconcerns across Asia-Pacific.
\n\uf0b7 Crypto fraud and ESG misrepresentation are rising blind spots in rapidly
\ndigitising markets.
\n\uf0b7 AI-enabled deception accelerates attack speed and challenges traditional
\ncontrols.
\n\uf0b7 Reporting ease averages 3.82\/5, with junior staff most concerned about
\nretaliation.
\n\uf0b7 Independence of investigators, clearer reporting policies and culturally
\nsensitive frameworks are critical enablers for speaking up.
\n\uf0b7 Fraud prevention must be tailored to hierarchical norms, cultural dynamics
\nand the region\u2019s expanding digital ecosystem.<\/p>\n
\u2018Asia-Pacific\u2019s fraud risks are shaped as much by culture as by technology, said
\nRachael Johnson, head of risk management and corporate governance in ACCA\u2019s
\npolicy and insights team. \u2018Digital innovation brings enormous opportunity, but it also
\naccelerates misinformation and deception. Organisations must recognise how
\nhierarchical norms and fear of retaliation limit visibility, creating cultural barriers to
\ngovernance that supports safe, trusted reporting.\u2019
\n\u2018Addressing fraud in Asia-Pacific requires culturally grounded solutions,\u2019 said Pulkit
\nAbrol, director of Asia- Pacific, ACCA. \u2018Independence in investigations, behavioural
\nrisk assessments and clear reporting frameworks are essential if organisations are to
\nkeep pace with rapidly evolving digital and operational threats.\u2019
\nThe report calls for a collective reset, urging organisations to strengthen proactive
\ndetection, embed accountability and align governance structures with the
\nbehavioural realities of the region. It emphasises that preventing modern fraud<\/p>\n
requires cross-functional collaboration, culturally sensitive oversight and ensuring
\nintegrity is integrated across digital, organisational and supply-chain ecosystems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
According to ACCA\u2019s new report, Combatting fraud in a perfect storm, organisations across Asia-Pacific are contending with a diverse and fast-evolving fraud landscape, shaped by procurement fraud (34%), bribery and … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[237],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t