The Asean Foundation launched Scam Ready Asean on April 28, 2026, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening prevention against online scams across Southeast Asia. The program was unveiled at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together policymakers, industry, and safety experts to combat the growing threat of online fraud.
Funding and Goals
Supported by Google.org with USD 5 million in funding, the program aims to build scam resilience for 3,000,000 people across Asean. It represents one of the region's largest-ever digital defense initiatives against online scams. Scam Ready Asean seeks to equip communities with knowledge, digital confidence, and critical thinking skills to recognize and prevent scams in an increasingly complex online environment.
Scope of the Threat
Online scams have become one of the fastest-growing digital risks in Southeast Asia, cutting across borders, sectors, and communities. While Asean's digital transformation has created economic and social opportunities, it has also increased exposure to cyber-enabled fraud. In 2024 alone, Southeast Asia incurred an estimated USD 23.6 billion in financial losses due to online scams.
In the Philippines, online scams remain a persistent threat. Data from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group shows continued enforcement activity, with dozens of scammers and money mules arrested in early 2026. Common scam types include phishing, impersonation, online job scams, and fraudulent selling schemes, many of which persist despite regulatory measures like SIM registration. Authorities have warned of increasingly sophisticated tactics, including scam operations leveraging digital platforms and coordinated messaging campaigns. Enforcement agencies and international partners have flagged the presence of organized scam centers in the Philippines, highlighting the growing scale of cybercrime. In response, the Philippine government has intensified inter-agency coordination, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with financial institutions and telecom providers.
As generative AI, digital payments, and social media evolve, scams are becoming more widespread and harder to spot, affecting young people, families, older adults, and new internet users.
Program Implementation
Scam Ready Asean will partner with 20 local organizations across 11 Member States to deploy a large-scale Train-the-Trainer model. By mobilizing 2,000 Master Trainers, the initiative will deliver structured modules and interactive tools such as the Be Scam Ready game to at least 550,000 beneficiaries. This grassroots education will be amplified by localized awareness campaigns and a series of six national and three regional policy dialogues, including in Malaysia, to drive unified, cross-sector defense against online fraud.
Quotes from Leaders
Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the Asean Foundation, said: "Scams today are no longer isolated incidents — they are a growing, shared challenge that affects people across borders, sectors, and communities. Across Southeast Asia, we are seeing how scams impact not just individuals, but trust in our digital spaces more broadly. Scam Ready Asean is about shifting our approach — from reacting to scams, to preventing them and being better prepared."
Sapna Chadha, Vice President, Southeast Asia, said: "The success of Southeast Asia's digital economy must be anchored in a foundation of trust. 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 Scam Ready Asean to ensure every citizen is empowered with knowledge to keep themselves safe online."
Regional Collaboration
At the regional level, Asean has taken steps to address online scams, including establishing the Asean Anti-Scam Working Group at the 4th Asean Digital Ministers' Meeting in 2024. Scam Ready Asean translates this policy commitment into a multi-year program promoting a whole-of-society approach to scam prevention, bringing together governments, industry, civil society, and communities.
Program Launch Event
The initiative launched with a high-level policy dialogue involving representatives from Asean digital, financial, and consumer protection bodies, along with banking and tech stakeholders. Following the dialogue, Scam Ready Asean was officially launched by Dato' Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications of Malaysia; Ambassador Sarah Al Bakri Devadason; Ambassador Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq; Dr. Piti Srisangnam; and Ram Papatla, Managing Director, Trust & Safety, Google APAC.
