Kuala Lumpur, 9 May 2026 (The Capital Post) –The ASEAN Foundation has officially launched “Scam Ready ASEAN”, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening scam prevention and digital safety awareness across Southeast Asia. The programme was unveiled during the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue held in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together policymakers, technology companies, and digital safety experts to tackle the increasing threat of online fraud.
Supported by Google.org through a USD 5 million funding contribution, the initiative aims to help build scam resilience among three million people across ASEAN member states. The programme focuses on improving public awareness, digital confidence, and critical thinking skills to help communities identify and avoid online scams in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Online scams continue to grow rapidly across Southeast Asia, causing major financial losses and affecting trust in digital platforms. In 2024 alone, the region recorded an estimated USD 23.6 billion in losses linked to online scams. Malaysia has also seen a sharp rise in scam-related cases as more people rely on digital banking, online shopping, and communication platforms for daily activities. According to the Royal Malaysia Police, more than 34,000 scam cases were reported in 2023, involving approximately RM1.2 billion in losses.
Among the most common scams affecting Malaysians are online investment fraud, impersonation scams involving banks or government authorities, as well as e-commerce and parcel scams. Scammers are increasingly using fake identities, manipulated content, and coordinated messaging tactics to make fraudulent activities appear more convincing and difficult to detect.
To address these challenges, Scam Ready ASEAN will collaborate with 20 local organisations across 11 ASEAN member states through a large-scale Train-the-Trainer model. The initiative plans to mobilise 2,000 Master Trainers who will conduct educational programmes and interactive activities, including the “Be Scam Ready” digital game, targeting at least 550,000 beneficiaries across the region. The campaign will also be supported by local awareness initiatives and multiple national and regional policy dialogues, including programmes in Malaysia.
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Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, Dr. Piti Srisangnam, stated that scams are no longer isolated incidents but have become a shared regional issue affecting communities, businesses, and public trust in digital spaces. He emphasised that the initiative aims to shift the region’s approach from merely reacting to scams towards actively preventing them through stronger cooperation between governments, industries, and local communities.
Meanwhile, Sapna Chadha highlighted that trust remains essential for the success of Southeast Asia’s digital economy. She said technology companies must continue improving platform security while supporting collaborative regional efforts to educate and protect users from evolving scam tactics.
The launch also aligns with ASEAN’s broader regional efforts, including the establishment of the ASEAN Anti-Scam Working Group during the 4th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting in 2024. Scam Ready ASEAN is expected to strengthen cross-border cooperation and encourage a whole-of-society approach involving governments, financial institutions, technology companies, civil society groups, and local communities in the fight against online scams.
The programme was officially launched by Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil alongside ASEAN Foundation representatives and Google APAC leadership during the event in Kuala Lumpur. – The Capital Post
