Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 16, 2026 Peace and security
The Global Anti-Fraud Summit opened at the Vienna International Centre, bringing together more than 1,300 participants, including 17 ministers, 19 deputy ministers, and over 400 representatives from technology companies, financial institutions, NGOs, academia, and the private sector.
Opening the event, John Brandolino, Acting Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said the world was facing a fundamentally new type of fraud that required globally coordinated action.
The summit was organized by UNODC jointly with INTERPOL, which is celebrating a decade of cooperation this year. Brandolino thanked the partners and sponsors, emphasizing that bringing together such a broad range of participants was challenging, but that this format is essential for developing effective solutions.
Highly organized transnational activity
According to the acting head of the National Police, fraud has ceased to be a localized, low-tech crime. Today, it is a highly organized, transnational activity that is evolving faster than law enforcement can respond. Criminal groups operate simultaneously in multiple jurisdictions, use cryptocurrencies and digital payment systems to instantly transfer funds, and employ technologies that allow them to reach millions of potential victims. The annual illegal proceeds from such schemes amount to many billions of dollars. The National Police is particularly concerned about:"fraud factories" based on the exploitation of victims of human trafficking, – such models are rapidly spreading in different regions of the world.
Joining forces
Brandolino emphasized that countering such a complex criminal ecosystem is impossible without the participation of all sectors—from tech companies and banks to governments and civil society. This is why the summit, he said, is becoming a key platform for pooling expertise and developing a more coordinated global response.
He recalled that the international community has already recognized the scale of the threat, and in many countries, fraud is the fastest-growing form of crime. International legal instruments, including the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the new UN Convention on Cybercrime, opened for signature last year and already supported by 74 states. These documents create the basis for a joint response to cyber fraud. UNODC, with a global network of field offices in more than 100 countries, stands ready to assist states in implementing the agreements by providing research, analysis, training, and technical support.
Over the course of two days, summit participants will discuss strengthening public-private partnerships, aligning policy, law enforcement, and technology approaches, raising awareness, and supporting and rehabilitating victims of fraud.
In closing, John Brandolino noted that the summit would serve as a starting point for developing a long-term international anti-fraud strategy. He emphasized that UNODC stands ready to be a key partner in creating a flexible platform that will ensure the coherence and effectiveness of global efforts.
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