Every Dollar Lost to Fraud in Hong Kong Costs Firms HK$3.64 According to LexisNexis True Cost of Fraud Study

04/29/2024

HONG KONG — LexisNexis® Risk Solutions has unveiled the findings of its 2023 LexisNexis® True Cost of Fraud™ Study – Asia Pacific. The annual report, based on a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting, reveals that businesses in APAC now bear a cost of fraud that is 3.95 times the face value lost in fraudulent transactions

In Hong Kong, 58% of companies reported an increase in fraud in the 12 months prior to the survey, while organizations incur an average cost of HK$3.64 ($2.70 for retailers and $4.31 for financial institutions) for every Hong Kong dollar lost to fraud. These costs encompass financial losses due to fraud, as well as internal labor expenses, external costs, legal costs and recovery fees, along with the expenses associated with replacing or redistributing lost or stolen merchandise.

While rapid adoption of digital payments not only improves payment experiences, it also exposes numerous systems and channels to more innovative fraud attacks. Across APAC, digital channels account for 51% of overall fraud losses, surpassing physical fraud for the first time. Consequently, cybercriminals exploit the anonymity of digital, cross-border transactions to execute fast and untraceable fraud. Additionally, the rise of scams and the use of technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), expands cybercriminals’ ability to exploit both consumers and businesses.

The study also reflects the evolution of criminal tactics. In APAC, the stage of the customer journey with the highest fraud losses is new account creation, presenting the greatest challenge for both financial institutions (46%) and retailers (44%). Criminals are exploiting the growing popularity of digital banking and digital commerce by using stolen or synthetic identities to open fraudulent accounts.

"It is self-evident that new forms of fraud increase the risk of financial losses for consumers and businesses,” said Thanh Tai Vo, director, fraud and identity, APAC at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "The issues facing businesses become even more challenging due to the fraud multiplier effect, where the losses experienced by organizations continue to increase and far exceed the lost face value in any transaction. Preventing fraud requires a multi-layered approach throughout the customer journey."

Key Findings from the True Cost of Fraud Study – Asia Pacific:

• Commercial Impact: Fraud significantly affects how customers perceive and interact with businesses. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Hong Kong respondents report that fraud has influenced customer satisfaction compared to 73% across APAC. Seventy-nine percent (79%) notice its impact on customer conversion, higher than the 75% recorded in APAC.
• Evolving Fraud Management Practices: Criminals constantly innovate. This dynamic nature of criminal behavior means that fraud and its associated costs are not static threats that businesses can simply diminish. For instance, new payment methods provide fraudsters with opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities in the retail sector. Financial institutions are realizing increasing trends in identity theft, scams and digital wallet fraud. 
• Moving Forward: Given the rising threat of fraud and cybersecurity risks, organizations should embrace forward-thinking fraud management and authentication solutions. This involves leveraging the capabilities of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, and biometric and behavior-based authentication methods.

Methodology: The True Cost of Fraud Study – Asia Pacific conducted a survey of 382 fraud management decision-makers at financial institutions and retail companies in APAC, including 75 in Hong Kong. Data collection and survey questions reference a 12-month period. The study leverages data and analysis to understand the current state of fraud and the challenges associated with digital payments in emerging markets. This information comes from a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of LexisNexis Risk Solutions in August 2023.

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