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Secretariat, a globally recognized authority in legal and regulatory consulting, has unveiled its first-ever Global Financial and Economic Crime Outlook 2025.
This extensive report evaluates key global threats tied to economic and financial crime and debuts a new benchmark—the Secretariat Economic Crime Index (SECI).
This innovative index scores 177 countries on their exposure to financial crimes, helping businesses understand country-specific risk levels.
According to Secretariat, financial crimes are expected to drive illicit flows as high as $6 trillion by the year 2030.
These crimes are becoming harder to detect and stop. The evolving landscape includes cyber fraud, artificial intelligence exploitation, and loopholes in decentralized finance systems.
Emerging technologies and unstable geopolitical climates are further complicating regulatory efforts.
“Financial crime is evolving faster than ever before,” said Bhavin Shah, Secretariat Managing Director.
“This report arms decision-makers with tools to identify risks early and act before harm is done.”
Notable Insights from the Report
AI Fuels New Crimes: Criminals are now deploying AI to commit sophisticated frauds, including deepfake scams and identity theft.
Crypto & DeFi Exploitation: The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies continues to offer a safe haven for illegal activities, calling for tighter global regulation.
Sanctions Merged with AML Rules: A growing number of nations are aligning anti-money laundering policies with international sanctions to increase enforcement power.
Data Sharing Across Borders is Crucial: Stronger international cooperation and real-time data access are now essential to tackling cross-border financial crimes effectively.
SECI Index: Measuring Global Vulnerabilities
The centerpiece of the report, the SECI Index, rates countries from 0 (low risk) to 4 (high risk) using a blend of expert insight and data from leading global rankings like the Basel AML Index, Transparency International’s Corruption Index, and the Organized Crime Index.
The report divides countries into four risk levels:
Transparent Titans: These 19 nations exhibit top-tier enforcement and openness. Leading this group are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Estonia.
Vigilant Players: These 64 countries are actively enhancing their frameworks. Top countries include the Netherlands, Austria, Seychelles, Israel, and Latvia.
Reactive Reformers: A group of 78 countries where enforcement is weak and crime risks are elevated. Examples: Ghana, Gambia, Malawi, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Regulatory Laggards: These 16 nations are severely affected by ingrained corruption and ineffective enforcement. Notable examples include the DRC, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.
2025 and Beyond: Ten Key Trends in Financial Crime
Looking ahead, the report identifies ten transformative trends:
Growing influence of AI-driven scams
Crypto and DeFi risks
Real-time fraud tracking
Advanced compliance technology
Use of behavioral biometrics
Risks linked to proliferation financing
Integrated sanctions and AML policies
Surge in white-collar threats
Cross-border data exchanges
ESG compliance as a crime control tool
As financial crime networks get more advanced, businesses, regulators, and institutions must invest in smarter technologies and data tools.
According to Shah, “We’re seeing a major shift—not just because of technology, but due to fractured global markets and retreating legal norms.
These changes give criminals more room to maneuver and make enforcement harder.”
Ralph Stobwasser, another Managing Director at Secretariat, added, “Our index exposes weak points across jurisdictions.
It’s not enough to assess risk—you must be ready to respond, recover, and adapt. Tariffs meant to protect local economies can sometimes drive black-market growth and money laundering, especially where enforcement fails.”
With its yearly publication, the Secretariat Global Financial and Economic Crime Outlook is set to become a critical guide for businesses navigating complex regulatory environments around the world.
