FHT director to represent Timor-Leste at regional ASEAN dialogue on online scams
DÍLI, 05 November 2026 (TATOLI) – The Executive Director of Fundasaun Hadomi Timor (FHT), Abrão Monteiro, will represent Timor-Leste at the upcoming Scam Ready ASEAN Public-Private Partnership Dialogue, scheduled for November 10–11 in Manila, the Philippines.
The two-day dialogue will bring together regional stakeholders to discuss ways to improve digital resilience and coordinate efforts to tackle online scams and fraud.
This initiative aims to reach up to three million citizens across the region to help ASEAN communities protect themselves and one another from scams by promoting awareness, digital confidence, and critical thinking.
It aims to improve digital awareness, strengthen public confidence and develop critical thinking skills to help people identify and avoid fraudulent online activities.
Organised by the ASEAN Foundation with US$5 million in support from Google.org, the Scam Ready ASEAN programme will run from 2025 to 2027 and is the region’s largest-ever digital defence initiative.
The programme comes as online scams become increasingly sophisticated, exploiting advances in technology, the expansion of digital financial services and the growing use of online platforms.
The scale of the challenge is reflected in the financial losses caused by online fraud across the region. In 2024, Southeast Asia incurred $23.6 billion in financial losses due to online scams and fraud, according to ASEAN Foundation.
The threat is becoming more complex with the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), the expansion of instant payment systems and the involvement of transnational criminal networks, making cross-border cooperation increasingly important.
FHT Director Abrão Monteiro’s participation in the dialogue will provide an opportunity to strengthen Timor-Leste’s engagement in regional initiatives, exchange experiences with stakeholders and explore collaborative approaches to raising public awareness of online threats.
FHT is the ASEAN Foundation’s Local Implementing Partner in Timor-Leste for the Scam Ready ASEAN programme, which seeks to equip communities with the knowledge and practical skills to recognise, prevent and respond to online scams.
FHT is a Timorese civil society organisation working to promote digital rights, technological literacy, internet safety and community empowerment through education and inclusive access to technology.
Through training, policy advocacy and public discussions, the organisation seeks to improve people’s ability to use digital technologies safely, responsibly and productively, with particular attention to young people.
It also works to strengthen cooperation among government institutions, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, academic institutions and young people to build a safer and more resilient digital environment in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Armandina Moniz
Translation: Filomeno Martins
