Insights from the Southeast Asia State of Scams Report 2025
- Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA)
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Date of Event: 5 December 2025
Scams have become a routine part of daily online life across Southeast Asia, creating financial harm, emotional stress, and a widening trust gap between consumers and the digital systems they rely on. In this session, hosted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), speakers unpacked the latest findings from the State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 Report and examined how different sectors can work together to improve prevention and protection.
The session featured contributions from
Brian Hanley – Director for Asia-Pacific, Global Anti-Scam Alliance
Ben Le Chai Anan – Public Policy, Meta Thailand
Robert Harris – Feedzai
Julian Gorman – GSMA
Hieu Minh Ngo – Cybersecurity Expert and CEO, Chong Lua Dao
The underlying research for the State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 Report was supported by BioCatch and ScamAdviser. The full report is available on the GASA website and provides a detailed view of the region’s evolving threat landscape and the measures required to strengthen consumer protection.
Drawing on survey data from six countries, the report reveals that investment scams, unexpected money scams, and impersonation scams remain the most prevalent across the region. While many people encounter scams regularly, far fewer report them, and even fewer recover lost funds. The discussion highlighted that the emotional impact of scams often exceeds the monetary loss, with victims experiencing stress, shame, and ongoing distrust in digital platforms. These experiences underscore why more integrated approaches to victim support and reporting pathways are needed.
Speakers also explored how scammers are rapidly shifting tactics as digital payment ecosystems evolve. Crypto and e-wallets continue to rise as preferred channels for moving illicit funds, reflecting both their convenience and the challenges regulators face in monitoring them. At the same time, mobile networks and messaging platforms remain central to scam operations, prompting renewed focus on cross-sector collaboration, data-sharing frameworks, and stronger safeguards across the communications ecosystem.
The session included perspectives from platform policy, financial crime prevention, telecommunications, and cyber investigation. Together, the speakers outlined how coordinated action can strengthen defences at every stage of the scam lifecycle, from detecting emerging threats to disrupting organised operations. Their contributions highlighted a shared message: effective scam prevention requires continuous cooperation among governments, industry, and civil society.
Watch the full session in the video below.
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