EU cyber-scam losses hit €50bn as bloc faces scrutiny over slow response to Southeast Asian networks
While the US, UK and China impose targeted sanctions, Brussels has acted only once, prompting experts to call for stronger tools against digital fraud syndicates.
A landmark study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) has revealed that Europeans lost approximately €50 billion ($57.7 billion) to online scams over the past 12 months. The report, which surveyed around 22,200 individuals across 15 European countries, found that 75% of adults encountered a scam in the last year, with 8% of those exposed interacting directly with fraudsters. Despite 71% of respondents claiming confidence in recognising scams, 22% of those who engaged with scammers suffered financial or data loss.
The findings underscore a growing divergence in how major powers are addressing the threat. While the United States, United Kingdom and China have moved to impose significant sanctions on Southeast Asian networks linked to these crimes, the European Union has been slower to respond. The EU has imposed sanctions on entities connected to Southeast Asian scam networks only once, in October 2024, when the Council sanctioned three individuals linked to Myanmar’s Thit Linn Myaing Group.
Brian D. Hanley, GASA’s Asia-Pacific director, told Deutsche Welle that Europe has been less visibly engaged compared to other major powers. He noted that these networks have often been viewed as a regional issue rather than a global security threat. Hanley highlighted fragmentation within EU institutions and member states as a key barrier, stating that the current level of response does not match the scale of the threat facing European citizens.
In response to the crisis, the EU has pursued diplomatic and procedural avenues. In April 2025, the bloc co-organised the ASEAN Regional Seminar on Online Scams Fighting in Bangkok. EU Ambassador to Thailand Luisa Ragher emphasised the need for faster cooperation at the event. Subsequently, the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei issued a joint statement recognising the importance of strengthening cooperation on non-traditional security challenges, including online scams.
Looking ahead, the European Commission plans to present an EU action plan against digital fraud before summer 2026. EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner confirmed this timeline at the 2026 Global Fraud Summit in Vienna. Experts such as Jason Tower from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime argue that while awareness is rising, the EU lacks targeted regulatory or sanctioning tools to disrupt fintech and social media platforms exploited by criminals.
The GASA report also detailed significant disparities in victim experiences. The average financial loss per victim was $2,735 (€2,369), with the highest averages recorded in Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium. Germany alone accounted for an estimated €10.6 billion in losses. Reporting rates remain low, with only 39% of victims reporting incidents to authorities, and just 35% of those who reported receiving reimbursement from the organisation they contacted.
