Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The ASEAN Foundation has introduced Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening the prevention of online fraud across Southeast Asia. The programme was launched at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, where policymakers, industry representatives and safety experts discussed the growing risks posed by cyber-enabled scams.
Supported by US$5m from Google.org, the initiative seeks to build scam awareness and resilience among up to three million people across ASEAN member states by improving digital literacy and encouraging safer online behaviour.
Online scams have become a major and rapidly expanding risk in the region, with estimated financial losses reaching US$23.6b in 2024. In the Philippines, authorities continue to report enforcement actions against individuals involved in fraudulent activities, while common scam types such as phishing, impersonation, job fraud and deceptive online selling remain prevalent.
In response, government agencies have strengthened coordination, public awareness efforts and collaboration with financial institutions and telecommunications providers to improve detection and enforcement. Regional cooperation has also progressed, including the formation of the ASEAN Anti-Scam Working Group in 2024.
“Across Southeast Asia, we are seeing how scams impact not just individuals, but trust in our digital spaces more broadly,” Dr Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, stated.
“By working closely with communities, policymakers, and industry, we hope to build a safer digital environment where people feel more confident and protected as ASEAN continues its digital journey.”
Scam Ready ASEAN will work with organisations across 11 member states using a train-the-trainer model, with around 2,000 trainers expected to deliver education programmes and tools to more than 550,000 people. The initiative will also be supported by awareness campaigns and policy dialogues to encourage cross-sector collaboration.
The programme also incorporates interactive learning tools and community-based outreach to support grassroots engagement, alongside a series of national and regional discussions intended to align policy approaches and share practical responses to online fraud. These activities are designed to complement existing national frameworks while strengthening cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders.
“To stay ahead of bad actors who are evolving their tactics, we are enhancing the security of our products and platforms, while supporting initiatives like the Scam Ready ASEAN programme to ensure that every citizen is empowered with the knowledge to keep themselves safe online,” Sapna Chadha, Vice President, Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, at Google Asia Pacific, commented.
The initiative reflects a broader shift towards preventative strategies, focusing on equipping individuals with the skills needed to recognise and respond to emerging threats.
By encouraging collaboration across governments, industry and civil society, the programme aims to address the evolving nature of scams linked to advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital payments and social media platforms.
