{
  "id": 12555202,
  "title": "Singapore proposes Asean initiatives to strengthen fight against scams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/singapore-proposes-asean-initiatives-to-strengthen-fight-against-scams-12555202",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T05:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/07/singapore-proposes-asean-initiatives-to-strengthen-fight-against-scams"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore has proposed two initiatives to enhance the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)'s approach to combating online scams, as the nation prepares to chair the organization next year. Speaking on Tuesday, Singapore's senior minister K. Shanmugam announced the ideas during a written response to a parliamentary inquiry.\n\nAs the Asean Voluntary Lead Shepherd for cybercrime and online scams, Singapore introduced an Asean code of practice aimed at combating scams on digital platforms. This code would establish voluntary baseline safeguards for member states to adapt and apply in order to detect, prevent, and disrupt scams. The proposed safeguards include timely escalation of detected scam activities to relevant authorities and reasonable verification measures to prevent the use of fake accounts for fraudulent purposes.\n\nIn addition to the proposed code of practice, Shanmugam also announced that Singapore has proposed an Asean Best Practices Guide. This guide would cover scam investigations, legislation, and public education. The initiatives complement existing multilateral efforts such as FRONTIER+, a program suggested by the Singapore Police Force. FRONTIER+ focuses on intelligence sharing, joint enforcement, and cross-border efforts to trace and freeze funds related to scams. Currently, six Asean members participate in FRONTIER+, according to Shanmugam.",
  "summary": "The safeguards include timely reporting to authorities and verification measures to prevent inauthentic accounts from being used for scams.",
  "key_points": [
    "Singapore proposes two Asean initiatives to strengthen fight against scams",
    "Asean code of practice aims to establish voluntary safeguards for member states",
    "Singapore also proposes Asean Best Practices Guide for scam investigations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Singapore's proposals aim to bolster Asean's anti-scam efforts by setting voluntary standards and sharing best practices, reflecting the nation's priorities as it prepares to chair the organization.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Singapore to push for deeper ASEAN integration, wider partnerships as bloc chair in 2027: Vivian Balakrishnan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/singapore-to-push-for-deeper-asean-integration-wider-partnerships-as",
        "published": "2026-10-07T05:03:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Singapore proposes Asean initiatives to strengthen fight against scams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/singapore-proposes-asean-initiatives-to-strengthen-fight-against-scams",
        "published": "2026-10-07T05:12:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Singapore proposes Asean initiatives to strengthen fight against scams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/singapore-proposes-asean-initiatives-to-strengthen-fight-against-scams-12559160",
        "published": "2026-10-07T05:31:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}