Widespread fraud in the USA savings and loan institutions during the 1980s is complicating government attempts to rescue thousands of institutions declared insolvent. In 1990 it was estimated that 60% of the savings and loans institutions seized in order to protect investors were the victims of fraud

In 1998, the head of the World Bank established a special internal fraud team and hired a team of external investigators to examine allegations of corruption and embezzlement against bank officials in Washington. Among the projects under scrutiny were World Bank-funded schemes in Russia, Japan and Indonesia, countries at the centre of the international financial crisis