TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Google unveiled plans Friday to launch its anti-fraud mobile game ShieldUp! in Taiwan in the second half of this year.

The announcement came at the search giant’s online security forum in Taipei, where Google highlighted regional partnerships and anti-scam achievements, per a press release.

Originally rolled out in India, ShieldUp! will also be introduced this year in Australia, Singapore, and Thailand, per CNA. The game is designed to educate players on scam tactics through interactive experiences that simulate common fraud scenarios in a safe environment.

Google Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Wilson White said gamification offers a powerful tool for building fraud resistance. With nearly 18 million gamers in Taiwan, the approach is especially well-suited to local audiences.

White cited figures, noting scam losses in the Asia-Pacific hit NT$22.4 trillion (US$688 billion), equivalent to 86% of Taiwan’s GDP.

Google said it is working with Taiwan’s digital affairs ministry to share scam intelligence and develop detection technologies. The partnership also calls for digital education and outreach efforts to build a secure online environment.

Google Taiwan Managing Director Lin Ya-fang (林雅芳) said hosting the cybersecurity forum reflects Taiwan’s growing role in global anti-fraud efforts. She added that Taiwan’s experience in scam prevention is gaining international recognition.

Lin added that online scams are constantly evolving, and that collaboration is key to staying ahead. “Bad actors are always one step ahead,” she said.