Expat fraud hotspots revealed as online scams add new risk

Finland, Spain, and Singapore have been identified as the world’s leading fraud hotspots in new research from international health insurance specialist William Russell.

The analysis assessed recorded fraud, cyber-related offences, identity theft, reported financial losses, and fraud legislation to rank countries where expats may face heightened exposure.

Finland topped the ranking, recording more than 1,200 fraud offences per 100,000 people. However, William Russell cautioned that high recorded rates could reflect stronger reporting systems, broader legal definitions, and greater willingness to report crime, rather than higher underlying fraud levels.

Spain ranked second overall and recorded the second-highest cyber-related fraud rate, while Singapore ranked third and had the highest cyber-fraud rate. The findings highlight the growing exposure to online scams in destinations where expats increasingly rely on digital services.

For insurers, the findings underline the importance of helping customers understand fraud risks alongside more traditional travel threats.

William Cooper, Director and Co-Owner of William Russell, said: “Expats can reduce their exposure to fraud by building verification into every important decision. Before transferring money, sharing documents or responding to an urgent request, contact the organisation through details you have sourced independently.”

Ukraine topped the World Cybercrime Index, followed by China and the US. Phishing and spoofing generated 191,561 complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, while investment fraud resulted in the largest reported losses, totalling US$8.65 billion.