ASEAN promotes digital defense skills against the wave of fraud.

The initiative, run by the ASEAN Foundation, aims to equip approximately 3 million people in the region with the skills to identify and prevent fraud, with $5 million in funding from Google.org.

Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, speaks at the launch of the Scam Ready ASEAN project - Photo: ASEAN Foundation

On April 29th, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the ASEAN Foundation – an organization affiliated with ASEAN that implements initiatives aimed at people in the region – announced the "Scam Ready ASEAN" project, aimed at strengthening the capacity to combat online fraud in the context of rapidly increasing digital risks across Southeast Asia.

Accordingly, online fraud has now become one of the biggest threats to digital transformation in the region.

It is estimated that in 2024, Southeast Asia suffered financial losses of up to US$23.6 billion due to online scams.

Common forms include phishing attacks, social engineering scams, identity fraud, investment fraud, and QR code payment scams.

Notably, the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated as criminals leverage new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the rapid development of digital payments and cross-border services.

In response to this reality, the Scam Ready ASEAN initiative was launched with $5 million in funding from Google.org, becoming one of the largest digital defense programs ever implemented in the region.

The project aims to equip approximately 3 million ASEAN citizens with the skills to identify and prevent fraud. Through this, the program seeks to enhance knowledge, strengthen users' confidence in the digital environment, and promote critical thinking to combat increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud.

Cambodian authorities inspect equipment seized during a raid on a fraud center - Photo: AP

One of the highlights of the initiative is the "train-the-trainer" model, implemented in collaboration with 20 local organizations in 11 member countries.

Approximately 2,000 core instructors will be trained to disseminate knowledge to the community, expected to reach over 550,000 people through interactive courses and tools, including the educational game "Be Scam Ready".

Mr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, noted that online fraud has now become a cross-border challenge, no longer an individual problem. According to him, the impact of these scams extends beyond financial losses to erode trust in the digital environment.

"Scam Ready ASEAN aims to shift the approach from reactive to proactive prevention, helping people be better equipped to protect themselves," he emphasized.

At the regional level, ASEAN is also stepping up coordinated efforts to address this problem. One notable step is the establishment of the ASEAN Anti-Fraud Working Group at the 4th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting in 2024, aimed at strengthening connectivity between national anti-fraud centers.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/asean-thuc-day-ky-nang-phong-ve-so-truc-lan-song-lua-dao-20260429165705925.htm