ASEAN Foundation Launches Digital Hub to Help Prevent Online Scams

The ASEAN Foundation has launched a free digital learning platform to help people across Southeast Asia recognize and report online scams. The Scam Ready ASEAN Resource Hub brings together educational materials, interactive learning tools, and a directory of official scam reporting hotlines covering all 11 ASEAN member states.

Unveiled on November 10 during the first Scam Ready ASEAN Public-Private Partnership Dialogue in Manila, the platform includes a regional scam-prevention curriculum developed with input from internet safety experts at the Internet Society and the Global Cyber Alliance, as well as local implementing partners. It also features Google's Be Scam Ready game, which lets users practice identifying common scam tactics through simulated scenarios.

The hub is part of the Scam Ready ASEAN program, a regional 2025-2027 initiative with $5 million in support from Google. The goal is to reach 3 million people through digital learning, community training, and awareness campaigns.

Since its launch in April 2026, the initiative has engaged 20 local implementing partners across the region and recruited 2,332 master trainers, exceeding its initial target of 2,000. These trainers are expected to support scam-awareness education for at least 550,000 learners.

Online fraud continues to cause significant financial losses across Southeast Asia: scam networks across the region caused an estimated $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in losses in 2025. In the Philippines, 84% of adults encountered a scam attempt in the past year, according to the State of Scams Philippines 2026 report – only 4% of those surveyed reported an incident to authorities.

The ASEAN Foundation plans to hold at least nine regional and national public-private dialogues to support cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society on scam prevention.