The ASEAN Foundation is forming a big regional effort in collaboration with Google to form and build scam resilience for 3,000,000 people across ASEAN.
Launched at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, the initiative brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and safety experts as the region continues to grapple with increasingly sophisticated cyber fraud.
Backed by USD 5 million in funding from Google.org, they are doing it from the practical education layer, helping people recognise suspicious activity, build digital confidence, and sharpen critical thinking skills in a digital environment where scams are becoming harder to detect.
The SEA region alone reportedly lost an estimated USD 23.6 billion to online scams in 2024, which shows that the threat landscape always escalates as fast and large with digital adoption. In Malaysia, the situation is particularly pressing, with the Royal Malaysia Police reporting over 34,000 scam cases in 2023, leading to about RM1.2 billion in losses. Common tactics include investment fraud, impersonation scams, and fake e-commerce or parcel schemes, often spread through messaging apps and digital payment platforms.
What makes the current wave of scams more challenging is not just volume, but sophistication. Fraudsters are increasingly using spoofed identities, manipulated content, and coordinated cross-platform messaging that makes scams look legitimate at first glance. As digital payments, generative AI, and social media usage continue to expand, trust in online services is also being tested in new ways.
To address this, Scam Ready ASEAN will roll out a Train-the-Trainer model across 11 ASEAN member states, working with 20 local organisations and mobilising 2,000 master trainers. These trainers will deliver structured learning modules and interactive tools, including the “Be Scam Ready” game, reaching at least 550,000 direct beneficiaries. The programme will also be reinforced through local awareness campaigns and a series of policy dialogues aimed at strengthening coordination across governments, financial institutions, and tech platforms.
The initiative also aligns with broader regional efforts, including the ASEAN Anti-Scam Working Group established under ASEAN’s digital ministerial framework. Together, these efforts reflect a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention, where education and ecosystem-wide cooperation play a central role.
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