Malaysia’s online scam losses jumped sharply to RM2.77 billion in 2025, more than doubling from RM1.28 billion in 2023 and rising from RM1.57 billion in 2024, government officials announced yesterday [1, 2, 3]. Investment scams made up the largest portion of these losses, often enticing victims with initial returns that encourage deeper investments until all savings are lost. Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching explained, “The victims initially see returns in their accounts. For example, they invest RM1,000 and see it grow to RM3,000, which then encourages them to invest more until they end up losing all their savings” [1]. She reiterated, “At the beginning, victims will see returns reflected in their accounts. For example, if they invest RM1,000, it becomes RM3,000, causing them to put in even more money until they eventually lose all their savings” [2].
Authorities have linked many investment scams to social media platforms, messaging apps, and fake investment sites, often promising high short-term profits [3]. To combat the rising scams, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) expanded its Safe Internet Campaign, targeting communities, schools, and educational institutions nationwide [1, 2, 3]. By April 30, 2026, the campaign reached 10,134 schools and nearly 900,000 participants across diverse educational settings, including national, vernacular, secondary schools, teacher training institutions, and universities [1, 2, 3].
The campaign tailors its messages by audience: primary schools focus on cyberbullying prevention; communities such as FELDA settlements receive education on common scams; secondary and higher education students learn about job scams and the dangers of mule accounts [1, 2, 3]. Community outreach is conducted in partnership with companies like Shopee, which also provide essential goods and health screening while promoting safe internet use [1, 2, 3].
On May 15, MCMC concluded a public consultation on the proposed Online Safety Act. Twenty-one stakeholders including major tech and telecom firms expressed strong preference for flexible, risk-based age assurance methods over mandatory single age verification systems to balance child protection with user privacy [4]. They advocated multi-layered approaches rather than hard identity checks.
Deputy Minister Teo Nur Ching announced the escalation of the Safe Internet Campaign and highlighted the continued rise in online scam losses during recent community outreach efforts on May 16, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Authorities plan to maintain public education and targeted interventions amid rising online fraud risks.
