Online Scams & Fraud in Malaysia

May 4, 2023

Online Scams & Fraud in Malaysia

There has been a steady increase in the number of online scams post-covid period. This has led the Malaysian government to step up efforts to fight scams. The TakNakScam awareness campaign was launched in 2021 and has reached millions.

Though there are numerous campaigns to help fight fraud, scammers are still stealing millions. Read on to find out where you can report scams in Malaysia, how to check for scams, and where scam victims can get support.

Scam Statistics in Malaysia

The key statistics on online fraud in Malaysia, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.

 

  2018 2019 2020 2021
Population 32.4 million 32.8 million 33.2 Million 33.6  million
Internet Penetration 87.4% 87.5% 87.7% 88.5%
# of Scams     11,511 39,525
Scams / 1,000     0.4 1.21
Money Lost     € 56.8 million € 435.4 million
Money Lost / Capita     €1.76 € 12.96
Money Lost / Report     € 4934 € 11,015.8

The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.

Where Can I Report a Scam in Malaysia?

  • Royal Malaysia Police RMP)- The Royal Malaysia Police is the primary law enforcement agency in Malaysia. They have a Cybercrime Investigation Division that deals with cyber-related crimes, including online scams.
  • Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID)- This is one stop report and response center where users can report scams. Call 03-2610 1559/1599.
  • Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP)- They receive complaints about online scams and other types of fraud.
  • National Scam Response Centre (NSRC)- You can reach them at 997, which will operate from 8 am to 8 pm daily to report any online scam.
  • HLB Contact Centre- Report any banking-related scam by calling 03 7626 8899 or visiting any of their branches.
  • Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC): The MCMC is the regulatory body for the communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia. They handle issues related to telecommunications, broadcasting, and online content, including online scams.

How to Report a Scam in Malaysia

Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.

  • Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
  • Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
  • Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
  • Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
     

Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.

Scam Victim Support in Malaysia

How to check for a scam in Malaysia

Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.

  • Bank Negara Malaysia- When in doubt you can always call BNMTELELINK (Customer Service Call Centre) at 1300-88-5465.
  • The CCID- They have developed a portal to enable the public to check telephone and bank account numbers used by crime syndicates. The same functionality is also available via an app.
  • Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) - The MCMC is the regulatory body for the communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia. They have a website where you can check for scams related to telecommunications, such as phone and internet scams. Their website is https://www.mcmc.gov.my/
  • The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)- You can check here for investment scams as well as trading frauds.


Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities

  • CyberSecurity Malaysia- They help promote best practices, training, and awareness programs as well as providing cybersecurity information to the public.
  • MyCERT- Performs round-the-clock computer security incident response services to individuals, companies, government agencies, or organizations.
  • Cyber999- They provide response and management of cyber security incidents for all types of internet users.

Popular Scams in Malaysia

The "fake friend" scam

The success of this scam depends on people's willingness to lend a hand to a friend in distress. It frequently entails a fraudster posing as a friend and getting in touch with the potential victim via text messages or phone conversations.

The scammer then tells a depressing tale before eventually pleading for financial assistance. The scammer frequently adds to their false narrative by claiming to have misplaced their cell phone or had to change numbers in order to justify using an alternative phone number.

Before agreeing to any monetary loans, the Police advise that you confirm such requests by speaking with a common friend or family member.

Using a different communication method, such as a video call or in-person meeting, to contact the acquaintance is even better. Additionally, the friend will be made aware that their identity is being used fraudulently as a result of this.


Scam News From Malaysia

Image source: unsplash.com

Report a Scam!

Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!

Help & Info

Popular Stories

As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu

So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking.  If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller.  The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the