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Corporate fraud and corruption continue to undermine global economies. In 2025, their financial impact remains severe, with the World Economic Forum estimating annual losses of at least $2.6 trillion – around 5 percent of global GDP. The World Bank reports over $1 trillion paid in bribes each year.  Governments are responding with varied approaches. As fraud schemes grow more sophisticated through artificial intelligence, investment in prevention, detection and enforcement will be essential to counter evolving threats.

UNITED STATES

FTI Consulting

“The US government has long prioritised combatting fraud in federal programmes, and recent developments underscore this focus. For example, on 30 June 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a “Health Care Fraud Takedown” that criminally charged 324 defendants, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, among others, with schemes totalling over $14.6bn. The schemes included the involvement of transnational criminal organisations, prescription opioid trafficking, telemedicine fraud and medically unnecessary procedures.”

CANADA

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

“While we have not observed a significant increase in corporate fraud, bribery or corruption in recent years, certain areas, such as supply chains during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, have seen heightened risks and incidents. Furthermore, the nature of corporate wrongdoing has evolved, becoming increasingly sophisticated. For example, we are seeing more complex schemes aimed at concealing bribes to foreign public officials, often through intricate methods embedded within corporate records. At the same time, there has been a marked increase in Cananda in corporate investments in compliance measures.”

UNITED KINGDOM

KPMG LLP

“In recent years, we have observed a mixed picture in the data for fraud. For example, reported cases of high value corporate fraud, bribery and corruption across the UK appeared to decrease recently. Our latest Fraud Barometer report, which records alleged fraud cases with a value of £100,000 and above, reported a small increase in fraud volumes during 2024, albeit total fraud value decreased to £453.2m total fraud value in 2024 from £992m in 2023. However, other indicators such as Action Fraud and UK Finance data show that fraud is a persistent threat costing billions of pounds.”

NETHERLANDS

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V.

“The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service (NPPS) has long prioritised the fight against corporate fraud, bribery and corruption. In 2025, combatting corruption is still a key priority, with a focus on the financial sector and multinational companies. This focus is further underscored by a rise in the number of non-governmental organisations and special-interest groups in the Netherlands, urging enforcement actions against companies implicated in such misconduct. Recently, the focus of enforcement has shifted, or at least expanded, from targeting companies to holding individuals accountable.”

SPAIN

Hogan Lovells International LLP

“Over the past decade, corporate fraud, bribery and corruption have been major areas of focus for the Spanish law enforcement authorities. Spain has achieved reasonable results in international corruption indicators, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Outlook 2024, in which Spain fulfilled 89 percent of criteria on regulations and 81 percent on practice, compared to the OECD average of 67 percent and 62 percent, respectively. However, in its report issued on 1 August 2025, the Group of States against Corruption recommended Spain strengthen its anti-corruption mechanisms.”

INDIA

Kroll Associates (India) Private Ltd

“Corporate fraud has been on the rise in India over the last decade. Multiple factors, such as an influx of private capital, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, digitalisation and the growing complexity of business have all contributed to the rise. Cyber crime and digital fraud are also on the rise, especially targeting individuals. India has also witnessed large corporate frauds involving siphoning of funds, related-party transactions, misreported financial statements, collusion with third parties, and bribery and corruption. Financial crime is a growing concern, and India is not immune to it.”

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Grant Thornton

“In recent years, China has witnessed a marked increase in the detection of corporate fraud, bribery and corruption. The government’s intensified anti-corruption campaign has led to the unveiling of numerous high-profile cases, particularly in state-owned enterprises. This crackdown has fostered a culture of alarm among potential wrongdoers, prompting many to reconsider illicit activities. Increased scrutiny by regulators and the media has also contributed to a greater awareness of corporate misconduct.”

JAPAN

PwC Japan Group

“In recent years, we have observed a growing number of corporate investigations involving accounting fraud, such as fictitious circular transactions and kickbacks. This trend is supported by 2024 data from the Japan Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which shows a steady rise in accounting misconduct among listed companies. Antitrust violations are also increasing, reflecting tighter regulatory scrutiny. These trends are unfolding amid economic pressures such as rising input costs, which are testing corporate resilience and ethical standards.”

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Freshfields LLP

“There has been a clear rise in the number of fraud and corruption investigations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These cases are increasingly complex, often involving cross-border elements, opaque ownership structures and regulatory touchpoints in multiple jurisdictions. The spotlight is sharper, and the bar is higher. The UAE has made meaningful enhancements to its legal and regulatory framework, including updates to cyber crime laws and a more assertive approach to enforcement under its anti-money laundering (AML) regime.”

CONTRIBUTORS

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V.

Freshfields LLP

FTI Consulting

Grant Thornton

Hogan Lovells International LLP

KPMG LLP

Kroll Associates (India) Private Ltd

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

PwC Japan Group