VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Thailand’s foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow used the Global Fraud Summit to press for tougher international action against fraud and online scams.
Summit at UN center – Organizers and participants
The Global Fraud Summit at the Vienna International Center was jointly hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the international police organization INTERPOL. The meeting brought together governments and law-enforcement agencies to address rising fraud threats.
From Bangkok, the minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. Representatives of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney General also joined the delegation.
Message from Bangkok – More pressure on online scams
In Vienna, Sihasak sought to reaffirm the government’s stance of consistently combating fraud and expanding international cooperation. Thailand aimed to underline that the fight against online crime required coordinated cross-border responses.
According to the announcement, the summit’s focus was primarily on online scams, described as cross-border digital fraud schemes. In these cases, perpetrators and victims often operated from different countries, complicating investigations and enforcement.
Thailand’s ambition – Leadership role and link to Bangkok conference
Bangkok highlighted its role as co-host of a UNODC conference on the global partnership against online scams, scheduled for 17 and 18 December 2025 in Bangkok. The upcoming meeting was presented as a key step in building a sustained international response.
The appearance in Vienna was intended to build on this role and maintain the pace at which Thailand sought to achieve “concrete progress” in anti-fraud initiatives at the international level. Thai authorities framed this as part of a longer-term leadership ambition in tackling online fraud.
High-profile appearances – Plenary, side event, national pledge
The foreign minister was set to open the plenary under the theme “Scam centres: The rising sophistication and cross-border impact of fraud.” The address was meant to highlight increasingly professional and networked fraud structures operating across borders.
In addition, a national commitment in a high-level format was planned as part of the summit’s outcome. Sihasak was also scheduled to open the UNODC side event titled “Intelligent threats with a global reach: The evolution of scam centres and cybercrime originating in Southeast Asia and targeting the world.”
Two outcome documents – Call to Action and business partnership
In Vienna, participants were expected to give official support to two outcome documents, including the Call to Action on Combating Fraud. The text aimed to consolidate political backing for stronger measures against both traditional and online fraud.
The program also featured a framework for a “Global Public-Private Partnership Framework against Fraud.” This initiative sought to involve state authorities and the private sector in joint countermeasures, reflecting the role of financial institutions and technology firms in prevention.
Political talks on the sidelines – Austria, United Kingdom, Singapore
On the sidelines of the summit, Sihasak planned talks with the Austrian foreign minister or the responsible ministry to deepen cooperation against fraud. These bilateral meetings were to complement the broader multilateral agenda in Vienna.
Minister-level meetings with representatives of the United Kingdom and Singapore were also announced. Beyond fraud, the parties intended to explore wider areas of cooperation between the countries.
What the Global Fraud Summit was about
The Global Fraud Summit was designed to strengthen high-level dialogue, bundle political commitments and improve cross-border cooperation among law-enforcement bodies. It aimed to provide a platform where governments could align strategies and share operational experience.
A further goal was to connect states and sectors more closely so that prevention and the fight against fraud, including online scams, worked together more effectively. Organizers emphasized that only an integrated approach across public agencies and private actors could keep pace with evolving cybercrime threats.