The ASEAN Foundation has launched Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening prevention against online scams across Southeast Asia amid rising cyber-enabled fraud losses in the region.
The programme was unveiled at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur and is supported by Google.org with funding of US$5 million. It aims to build scam resilience for 3,000,000 people across ASEAN through education, awareness and digital safety training.
The initiative comes as online scams continue to escalate across the region, with Southeast Asia recording an estimated US$23.6 billion in financial losses in 2024. In Malaysia alone, the Royal Malaysia Police reported more than 34,000 scam cases in 2023, resulting in about RM1.2 billion in losses, driven largely by investment fraud, impersonation scams and e-commerce related schemes.
The ASEAN Foundation said the programme will adopt a Train-the-Trainer model involving 20 local organisations across 11 ASEAN member states. It will train 2,000 master trainers who will then deliver scam prevention education to at least 550,000 beneficiaries. Tools such as the Be Scam Ready game will also be used to support public awareness efforts.
“Scams today are no longer isolated incidents—they are a growing, shared challenge that affects people across borders, sectors, and communities,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation. “Scam Ready ASEAN is about shifting our approach—from reacting to scams, to preventing them and being better prepared.”
Google also said the success of the digital economy depends on trust, with efforts focused on improving platform security while supporting regional education initiatives.
“The success of Southeast Asia’s digital economy must be anchored in a foundation of trust,” said Sapna Chadha, Vice President, Southeast Asia. “This is also about investing in a whole-of-ecosystem approach where governments, industry, and civil society work together to protect the region.”
The initiative aligns with ASEAN efforts such as the ASEAN Anti-Scam Working Group, reinforcing a broader regional push to strengthen cooperation, policy coordination and public resilience against online fraud.
