In a startling revelation, Southeast Asia grappled with an astonishing $23.6 billion in scam-related losses last year, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 report released in late August. The staggering figure translates to roughly $660 vanished from every adult in the region, highlighting a profound issue that calls for urgent attention.
Among the countries surveyed, Malaysia topped the charts with an average loss of $1,035 per victim, while Thailand trailed with losses averaging $354. Singapore, meanwhile, set a poignant record with S$1.1 billion (approximately US$861.2 million) lost to scams, marking a dramatic 70% surge from the previous year, as reported by The Straits Times.
In the city-state, investment, job, and phishing scams emerged as the trifecta of deceit, both in terms of frequency and financial impact. However, there is a glimmer of hope this year—with reported cases and losses in Singapore down 26% and 12.6%, respectively, in the first half, tallying 19,665 cases that resulted in S$456.4 million in losses, according to Channel News Asia.
Malaysia also accounted for the highest percentage of scam victims, with a staggering 32% of adults reporting financial losses. The Philippines followed closely with 31%, while Singapore’s figure stood at 21%. Across the region, wire transfers remained the scammers’ preferred payment method. However, in the Philippines, digital wallets have emerged as a popular tool for fraudulent transactions.
Investment scams reigned supreme with 63% of respondents claiming they had been targeted, including 32% who encountered such schemes more than once. Following closely were unexpected money scams, where individuals were deceived into providing money or personal information to claim non-existent prizes or lottery winnings; 58% reported such experiences. Impersonation scams, shopping scams, and employment scams rounded out the top five categories of fraud, each affecting more than half of the respondents.
Jorij Abraham, CEO of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, emphasized that scams represent a pressing social threat, not merely an individual misfortune. “Scammers are evolving faster than our defenses,” he warned, urging a collective response from governments, technology firms, and financial institutions. “We must unite to counter this growing menace, lest we inadvertently accept fraud as a normalized part of daily life—almost like an encore after the plays of our lives.”
What was the total amount lost to scams in Southeast Asia last year?
The total amount lost to scams across Southeast Asia last year reached a staggering $23.6 billion.
Which country had the highest average losses per victim?
Malaysia had the highest average losses per victim, amounting to $1,035.
What types of scams were most prevalent in Singapore?
Investment, job, and phishing scams were the top three scams in Singapore during the reporting period.
