Towards an ASEAN Response to Scams
This Policy White Paper, in partnership with the US-ASEAN Business Council, examines on-going policy and private sector responses to scams, in the context of a global scams epidemic that costs consumers over US$1 trillion per year, undermining trust in digital services, and fueling organized crime networks across Southeast Asia and beyond.
The paper reviews national and regional efforts to address scams, drawing on desk research and expert consultations with government, industry, civil society, and international organizations, as well as a multi-stakeholder ASEAN Scams Workshop held in August 2025. The paper identifies key gaps in policy and enforcement, highlights innovative responses from both public and private sectors, and sets out high-level recommendations for building regional resilience and cooperation. By strengthening cross-border collaboration, dismantling scam compounds, disrupting illicit financial flows, and addressing human trafficking within scam operations, Southeast Asia can move toward a coordinated, whole-of-society response to this fast-evolving threat.
Download the full report here.
About the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute
The Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute is a research institute based in Bangkok and Singapore, working across the region. Our mission is to support the development of solutions to the most pressing public policy challenges facing Southeast Asia in the 21st century. The Institute undertakes in-depth research to develop actionable policy solutions on a range of issues across sustainability, technology, public health, trade, and governance. We convene dialogues with stakeholders and decisionmakers to drive discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing markets across the region. The Institute draws on a network of in-market researchers, advisors, and partners to provide insights and recommendations for governments, policymakers, and businesses.
Our Work
Toward Balanced Digital Platform Regulation in APEC
Opportunities at the Nexus of AI and Cybersecurity
