- ASEAN Foundation launched the 'Scam Ready ASEAN' program in Kuala Lumpur to combat rising online scams across Southeast Asia
- Backed by a $5 million grant from Google.org, the initiative will train 2,000 educators and reach up to 3 million people through awareness campaigns
- The program aims to strengthen cybersecurity education and regional cooperation amid growing digital fraud cases, including major scam losses reported by Singapore Police Force in 2025
The ASEAN Foundation has launched Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional online scam prevention program, in Kuala Lumpur to address the rising threat of digital fraud across Southeast Asia. The Jakarta-based nonprofit, established by ASEAN, said the initiative is designed to strengthen cybersecurity education and improve public awareness of online threats.
The program is supported by a $5 million grant from Google.org and will be implemented in collaboration with 20 local organizations across the region. As part of its rollout, the foundation plans to train approximately 2,000 trainers who will lead community education programs focused on scam awareness, online safety, and fraud prevention.
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According to the ASEAN Foundation, Scam Ready ASEAN aims to directly reach at least 550,000 people through workshops, interactive tools, and outreach activities. The initiative also includes policy dialogues to support stronger regional cooperation in tackling cybercrime. Overall, the program targets a broader audience of up to 3 million people across Southeast Asia.
The launch comes amid increasing concern over the scale of online scams in the region. In Singapore, the Singapore Police Force reported 37,308 scam cases in 2025, with estimated losses totaling S$913.1 million (approximately $715 million). The most commonly reported cases involved investment scams, phishing attacks, impersonation scams, job-related fraud, and ecommerce scams.
The ASEAN Foundation said the initiative reflects a growing need for coordinated efforts to combat digital fraud, emphasizing education and prevention as key strategies to protect individuals and communities from evolving online threats.
