As Southeast Asia’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, Singapore is confronting a significant surge in sophisticated scams and fraud. In 2023, scam-related losses in Singapore reached at least SGD 651.8 million, with 46,563 reported cases – a 46.8% increase from the previous year, according to the Sentencing Advisory Panel of Singapore.
In response to this escalating threat, the ASEAN Foundation has announced a new regional anti-scam initiative at the Global Anti-Scam Summit (GASS) Asia 2025 in Singapore. With $5M in funding support from Google.org, ASEAN Foundation will strengthen community resilience against scams in partnership with local implementing partners across all ten ASEAN Member States, including Singapore and Timor-Leste.
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment. With Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 placing strong emphasis on enhancing regional digital resilience, and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 highlighting the need for a secure, people-centred digital future, this initiative stands as a powerful example of collaboration for the public good.
While the situation remains concerning, Singapore has implemented various measures to combat scams. These include the formation of the Anti-Scam Command (ASCom), the launch of the ScamShield app, and the introduction of a shared liability framework with financial and telecommunications companies. Additionally, the government has enacted laws allowing police to freeze bank accounts to prevent further financial losses in scam cases.
“Scams don’t just steal money—they steal trust, dignity, and opportunity,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation. “Through this programme, we aim to empower communities across ASEAN and Timor-Leste with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to outsmart scammers. This is not just about prevention; it’s about protecting the very fabric of our societies in the digital era.”
The new anti-scam initiative directly addresses the urgent need for a coordinated approach to a borderless problem focusing on awareness, education and empowerment. The program will expand access to scam prevention resources for over 3 million people across the region, including “Be Scam Ready”, an educational game developed by Google to build critical scam-spotting skills based on inoculation theory. A core part of this effort includes in-depth training for 550,000 individuals, delivered by a 2,000-strong network of master trainers, to mobilise youth, parents, educators, and elderly citizens to become the first line of defence against online scams.
“Scams are a critical challenge across Southeast Asia, where the region has faced significant financial losses. This is why we are so proud to support the ASEAN Foundation’s new anti-scam initiative. We believe the best way to effectively tackle this complex, cross-border problem is through a whole-of-society approach. By bringing together governments, industry, and civil society, this initiative will empower communities and build long-term digital resilience, helping to create a safer, more trusted online environment for millions across the region,” said Wilson White, Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Asia Pacific.
As the region’s digital economy is projected to soar to USD 1 trillion by 2030, this initiative is a critical step toward building a safe and secure digital future for all.
