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Google says it is expanding scam-prevention measures across Asia Pacific, including $6 million in Google.org funding for The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute. The company also described product protections, industry partnerships and plans to expand its Be Scam Ready educational game. The announcement does not set out funding allocations, program timelines or independent measures of impact.
Google has announced $6 million in funding for work to help people and small businesses in Asia Pacific respond to online scams, while outlining expanded device protections and cross-industry partnerships. The effort involves The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute and comes as Google cites a UN report estimating scam losses in the region at up to $114.1 billion in 2025.
Google says the grant will support community training, the development of AI-powered defense prototypes and research to give policymakers insights for strengthening scam-prevention measures. The company did not specify how the $6 million will be divided between the two organizations, which countries will receive funding first or when activities will begin.
On products, Google says Android launched Fake Call Detection, designed to identify calls involving AI-driven impersonation. It also says Pixel’s built-in scam detection can flag potential scams in several popular messaging apps, and that it plans to bring the protection to additional Android users later this year. The report gives no rollout date or list of eligible devices.
Google also says it is expanding Android developer verification to address malicious apps distributed outside Google Play. Separately, it plans to extend the Be Scam Ready educational game to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The game, which simulates common scams, is already available in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, according to the company.
Scam Response Across APAC
The announcement brings together technology, industry coordination and local education, reflecting the varied ways scams can reach people: through calls, messaging services and malicious apps. If the planned work reaches communities at scale, training and locally relevant resources could help people recognize common tactics, while product alerts may offer another point of warning.
Google’s figures underline the potential scale of the problem, but the announcement does not establish how much its initiatives will reduce losses or prevent victimization. The funding and tools are measures being launched or expanded, not evidence of a measured effect. Their reach, local suitability and evaluation will matter in judging their value.
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Existing Regional Anti-Scam Work
Google’s announcement describes a regional effort that includes both company products and partnerships. The company says it signed the Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud with industry peers earlier this year, with a focus on sharing threat intelligence and coordinating defenses. It also says it helped establish the Japan Anti-Scam Alliance to support aligned action by public and private institutions.
Google.org says it recently helped launch the Global Anti-Scams Philanthropy Collaborative, intended to coordinate philanthropic action across industries. The new grant builds on Google’s support for local organizations including Bamboo Builders in Singapore and the Taiwan FactCheck Center, as well as the ASEAN Foundation’s Scam Ready ASEAN initiative.
The source cites a recent UN report estimating that scam losses in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand reached up to $114.1 billion in 2025. It also says more than 40% of ASEAN consumers were reported to have experienced scams. The supplied material does not provide the underlying methodology, survey period or definitions used for those estimates.
“Tackling these highly organized networks requires a unified effort.”
Funding, Rollout and Results
The announcement does not specify how the $6 million will be allocated, the number of people or businesses expected to take part, or when the funded programs will start. It also gives no performance targets or independent process for measuring whether the training, prototypes or policy research reduce scam losses.
Details of the Android expansion remain open: Google did not name the additional markets, devices or precise release dates for messaging-app scam detection. The supplied report also does not explain how Fake Call Detection identifies impersonation, what limitations users may encounter or how developer verification will operate across app distribution channels.
The regional loss and consumer-experience figures are attributed to a UN report, but the source material does not include its title, methodology or underlying data. The figures should be read as estimates and reported survey results, not as a complete accounting of all scams or losses.
Regional Programs and Rollouts
Google says it expects to bring Pixel messaging-app scam detection to additional Android users later this year, but has not named the release date or coverage. It also plans to expand Be Scam Ready to five more countries. Further details on the schedule and local partners would clarify how quickly those programs will reach users.
The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute are expected to carry out work supported by the new grant, including community training and prototype development. Google has not announced project milestones or reporting dates. Future updates on participation, safeguards and measured outcomes will help establish whether the regional collaboration translates into practical protection.
Key Questions
What did Google announce?
Google announced $6 million in Google.org funding for The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute to support scam-resilience work in Asia Pacific. It also outlined product protections, industry coordination and educational programs.
Which countries will get the Be Scam Ready game?
Google says the game will expand to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is already available in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, according to the company.
When will the Android protections reach more users?
Google says it plans to bring Pixel’s messaging-app scam detection to additional Android users later this year. It has not provided a specific date, device list or complete market rollout plan.
How large are scam losses in the region?
Google cites a recent UN report estimating losses of up to $114.1 billion in 2025 across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The supplied material does not include the report’s methodology or underlying data.
Is there evidence the programs have reduced scams?
The announcement describes planned funding and protections but does not report measured reductions in scams or losses. Impact data and evaluation plans have not been provided in the source material.
Source: blog.google
