Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Korean Banks See Surge In Voice Phishing as Fraudsters Target Small Sums

19/10/2026

Voice phishing cases detected by the major banks doubled in 2025, driven by the exploitation of easy money transfer services and a shift towards smaller transaction amounts.

Structural Regulation

Taiwan Allows Foreign Employees to Join Stock Ownership Trusts

19/10/2026

Taiwan's FSC will permit foreign employees of listed companies to participate in employee stock ownership trusts from late December.

Hong Kong FIs Urged to Deploy AI Against Illegal Gambling Funds

19/10/2026

Hong Kong authorities are pushing banks and payment providers to leverage AI to detect and block illicit gambling transactions.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Hong Kong Dismantle HK$14m Agarwood and Crypto Investment Scam

19/10/2026

Six individuals have been arrested in Hong Kong for operating a cross-border investment fraud involving agarwood trees and cryptocurrency.

Anti-Money Laundering

Hong Kong Sanctions Six Insurance Intermediaries Over AML Control Breaches

19/10/2026

The IA has suspended or banned six intermediaries for up to 13 months over false bank draft declarations.

Anti-Money Laundering

India Amends Mauritius Tax Treaty to Curb Misuse by FPIs

19/10/2026

India has notified an amendment to its tax treaty with Mauritius, introducing a Principal Purpose Test to curb tax avoidance and treaty shopping.

Cryptocurrency

Korea's Jeonbuk Bank Launches First Bitcoin-Backed Corporate Loans

19/10/2026

Jeonbuk Bank has executed South Korea’s first KRW-denominated corporate loan collateralised by Bitcoin, utilising a third-party custody structure to navigate existing regulations.

Anti-Money Laundering

Vietnam Proposes Tougher Penalties for Gambling and Lottery Violations

19/10/2026

Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has drafted new decrees to tighten administrative enforcement and align gambling sector regulations with AML laws.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Thai Police Dismantle Transnational Investment Scam

19/10/2026

Thai authorities have arrested 39 suspects and seized over THB 500 million in assets linked to a transnational investment scam and money laundering syndicate.