Asean Initiative Targets Rising Online Scams

• •84% of Filipino adults faced scam attempts in the past year.
• •The Scam Ready Asean initiative aims to educate 3 million people across 11 countries.
• •Financial losses from scams in the Philippines are estimated at P121.8 billion.

The Scam Ready Asean National Public-Private Partnership Dialogue, hosted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on October 12, 2026, addressed the increasing threat of online scams affecting consumers and businesses. Supported by a $5 million grant from Google.org, the initiative aims to educate 3 million people across 11 Asean countries about recognizing and responding to scams. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance's report indicated that 84% of Filipino adults experienced scam attempts in the past year, leading to estimated financial losses of P121.8 billion. The Philippine initiative plans to educate 1 million individuals, with assessments to evaluate their protective actions. The goal is to reduce scam victimization and related financial losses by 50%, although a baseline for measurement is yet to be established.