Coda Deploys Mascot to Guard Gamers from Rampant Scams in SE Asia

SINGAPORE – April 29, 2026 – As digital scams continue to plague Southeast Asia, costing victims billions of dollars annually, digital monetization leader Coda is escalating its efforts to protect online gamers. The Singapore-based company has launched the next phase of its 'Guard Your Game' campaign, deploying a friendly mascot and a new educational video series across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore to arm players against increasingly sophisticated fraud.

The expanded initiative, first launched in February 2026, introduces new resources designed to make online safety accessible and engaging. A new video featuring 'Codee,' Coda's anti-scam mascot, is now circulating on social media, aiming to teach gamers how to identify and avoid common pitfalls when making digital purchases. This move signals a deeper commitment from the firm to tackle a problem that threatens to undermine trust in the region's booming digital economy.

The Trillion-Rupiah Problem: Southeast Asia's Scam Epidemic

The backdrop for Coda's campaign is a digital landscape rife with peril. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) in its State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 report, the scale of the fraud is staggering. In Indonesia alone, losses over the past year are estimated at a jaw-dropping IDR 49 trillion, equivalent to approximately US$3.3 billion.

The GASA report paints a grim picture of the situation on the ground. Nearly two-thirds of Indonesian adults reported encountering a scam within the last year, and one in three ultimately fell victim. The most common tactics include impersonation scams, fraudulent reward claims, and phishing links that target digital commerce platforms—methods that directly threaten online gamers and shoppers. Across the broader Southeast Asian region, 63% of adults reported receiving scam outreach, with investment scams being the most prevalent type.

The gaming community is a particularly vulnerable target. In the Philippines, the video gaming industry registered the highest rate of suspected digital fraud attempts during the first half of 2023, hitting 15.2%—nearly triple the global average of 5.3%. This high rate of fraudulent activity underscores the urgency for targeted interventions within the gaming ecosystem, where in-game purchases and digital transactions are constant.

Codee on the Front Lines: A Creative Approach to Safety

In response to this persistent threat, Coda is moving beyond standard warnings and employing a more creative strategy. The centerpiece of the campaign's new phase is Codee, a mascot designed to give a friendly and memorable face to the serious topic of fraud awareness. The company hopes this character will resonate with gamers and make safety tips more approachable.

A new video, released in both English and Bahasa Indonesia, follows Codee as it guides viewers through common scam scenarios. It teaches players how to spot red flags, such as unsolicited notifications about winning rewards, suspicious links sent via messaging apps, and websites that impersonate trusted platforms like Codashop, Coda's own digital content marketplace.

The campaign also heavily promotes practical tools introduced in its initial phase. A key resource is the Coda Online Safety URL Checker, available on the company's website, which allows users to input a web address to verify if it is a legitimate site before entering any personal or payment information. This is complemented by a localized Anti-Scam Booklet, which provides more detailed information and guidance. By distributing these resources through its popular Codashop social media channels, the company aims to reach gamers directly on the platforms they use most.

A Strategic Alliance for Digital Trust

Coda's initiative is not a solo effort. The 'Guard Your Game' campaign has secured the endorsement of Indonesia's Ministry of Creative Economy (EKRAF), highlighting a growing trend of public-private partnerships to combat digital crime.

Muhammad Neil El Himam, the Deputy Chairman for Digital and Technology Creativity at EKRAF, has praised the campaign as a strong example of how industry and government can collaborate to create a safer digital environment. He emphasized the increasing urgency to protect consumers within Indonesia's scaling creative economy, particularly the gaming community. According to El Himam, Coda's creative approach with the Codee mascot is a valuable way to increase safety awareness, noting that such long-term investments in consumer education are essential for building the trust necessary for the sector's growth. The localization of the regional initiative ensures that the vital safety message resonates at a grassroots level, reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting users across Southeast Asia.

This collaboration aligns with EKRAF's broader strategy to bolster Indonesia's creative industries, which includes seeking international partners and expanding financing for intellectual property-based businesses. The partnership with Coda is a clear signal that protecting consumers from digital threats is now considered a foundational element for a thriving creative economy.

More Than a Game: The Business of Building a Safer Internet

While the campaign is a public service, it is also a strategic business imperative for Coda. In a highly competitive market for digital content monetization, user trust is the ultimate currency. As a partner to over 300 publishers, including industry giants like Activision, Electronic Arts, and Riot Games, ensuring the security of its transaction ecosystem is paramount.

Liz Adam, Coda's VP of Corporate Affairs, stated that the company's commitment to safe and secure transactions is inseparable from delivering the best possible experience for gamers. She framed 'Guard Your Game' as a direct expression of that commitment, acknowledging that as scammers evolve their tactics, so too must the methods used to educate and protect consumers. The video campaign is a deliberate step to instill ongoing vigilance and help players transact with confidence.

The need for such proactive measures is reflected in online discussions among gamers. User forums and social media threads occasionally feature accounts of transaction issues, with some users perceiving processing errors or unexpected charges as potential scams. While many such issues are resolved through customer service, they highlight the fragility of user trust and the damage that can be done by sophisticated impersonation sites that mimic official platforms.

Other industry players, like Garena, also invest in user safety through measures like chat moderation and parental guides. However, Coda's dedicated anti-scam mascot and public-facing URL checker represent a distinct and highly visible approach to consumer education. By investing heavily in building a safer digital playground, Coda is not only protecting its users but also reinforcing its position as a reliable and trustworthy leader in the global digital content marketplace. This investment in safety is ultimately an investment in the long-term sustainability of its own business and the health of the digital economy across Southeast Asia.