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Google says Google.org will provide $6 million to The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute for scam-resilience work in Asia Pacific. The company also outlined device protections, industry partnerships and plans to expand its scam-awareness game to five more countries; the announcement does not specify funding timelines or project targets.
Google.org is providing $6 million to The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute to support scam-prevention work across Asia Pacific, Google said in a report about its regional efforts. The planned work includes community training, development of AI-powered defense prototypes and research to inform policymakers, though the company did not publish a timetable or specific outcome targets.
Google described the funding as part of a broader effort spanning product protections, industry coordination and community education. The company said Android launched Fake Call Detection this year to identify phone calls involving impersonation, including AI-driven impersonation. It also said Pixel devices can alert users to suspected scams in several popular messaging apps, and that it plans to bring this protection to more Android users later this year.
Google said it is expanding Android developer verification to address malicious apps distributed outside Google Play. The company also cited its participation in the Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud, and said it helped establish the Japan Anti-Scam Alliance to coordinate defenses among public and private institutions. Separately, Google.org recently helped launch a global philanthropic collaborative focused on scam prevention.
The community program will support training and local initiatives, while Google also plans to expand its 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 Google. The company said the expansion is linked to the ASEAN Foundation’s Scam Ready ASEAN program.
Funding Local Scam Defenses
The announcement combines funding with efforts to reach people through devices, industry partnerships and local education. That matters because scams can cross borders and platforms, while responses may depend on cooperation among technology companies, public institutions and community organizations. Google says its grant is intended to help people and small businesses build resilience, but has not yet provided measures by which the program’s impact can be evaluated.
Google cited a recent UN report that estimated scam losses in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand at up to $114.1 billion in 2025. The source also says more than 40% of ASEAN consumers were reported to have experienced scams; it does not specify the underlying survey details in the announcement. These figures describe the scale cited by Google, not an independently verified assessment included in its report.
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Products, Alliances and Education
Google’s approach, as described in its report, has three strands. Device and platform features aim to identify suspicious calls, messages or apps. Industry initiatives are intended to support threat-information sharing and coordinated defenses. Community programs focus on practical scam awareness and on helping local organizations and policymakers respond to risks.
The new grant builds on support Google says it has provided to local groups, including Bamboo Builders in Singapore and the Taiwan FactCheck Center. It also connects to Scam Ready ASEAN, which Google says is bringing prevention resources to millions across the region. Google did not provide a breakdown of how the $6 million will be divided between the two funded organizations or the individual projects.
“Tackling these highly organized networks requires a unified effort.”
Funding Details Still Pending
Google’s report does not state when the grant money will be distributed, how it will be split between The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute, or which countries will receive the greatest share of support. It also gives no project timeline, beneficiary targets or evaluation measures for the training and AI-defense prototypes.
Some product commitments remain broad. Google says it will bring Pixel scam detection to additional Android users later this year, but does not name a launch date, countries or eligible devices. It also does not specify how developer verification will operate across app-distribution channels. The report presents the cited regional loss and consumer-experience figures without the underlying methodology, so their precise scope cannot be assessed from this announcement alone.
Regional Programs Await Rollout
The next visible steps are the rollout of the funded community work and the planned expansion of Be Scam Ready to five additional countries. Google has not announced dates for either. It also says Pixel scam-detection protections are expected to reach more Android users later this year, with details still to come.
Further information about grant allocation, participating communities and how results will be measured would clarify the scale of the program. Until those details are published, the announcement establishes the funding and intended activities, but not how many people will be reached or whether the projects will reduce scam exposure.
Key Questions
What did Google announce?
Google said Google.org will provide $6 million to The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute for Asia-Pacific scam-resilience efforts.
What will the funding support?
The planned activities include training communities, incubating AI-powered defense prototypes and providing policymakers with insights to strengthen responses to scams. Google has not published a detailed budget or schedule.
Which countries will get the Be Scam Ready game?
Google plans to expand the game to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is already available in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, according to the company.
When will the programs begin?
The report does not give start dates for the grant-funded programs or the game expansion. Google says it plans to bring Pixel scam-detection protections to more Android users later this year, but gives no specific date or markets.
Source: blog.google
