Malaysia: Malaysia recorded over 66,000 online scam cases with losses totaling approximately RM2.97 billion last year, highlighting the escalating threat posed by sophisticated syndicates exploiting digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and social engineering, according to a crime prevention expert.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) exco member and British Graduates Association Malaysia (BGAM) president Datuk Kamarudin Md Ali stated that scams have evolved from isolated incidents into a serious national challenge affecting individuals, families, and businesses. "Combating this threat requires collective responsibility, where every informed citizen becomes another line of defense against scammers," he said during the BGAM Lecture Series: Scam Awareness 2.0-Action and Prevention at HELP University.
The lecture series, officiated by Asia e University chancellor and former Home Minister Tan Sri Dr. Syed Hamid Albar, was organized by BGAM in collaboration with HELP University and The Hainan Professional and Graduate Team Malaysia (HPGTM). It brought together government leaders, law enforcement experts, cybersecurity professionals, industry practitioners, academics, and the public to address the growing threat of scams and cyber-enabled crimes.
HELP University Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice director and professorial chair Prof Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar emphasized that combating scams required more than just technological solutions. He stressed the importance of integrity, critical thinking, public awareness, and collective responsibility, noting that "scammers don't hack computers; they hack human psychology."
In his address, Syed Hamid remarked that scams have evolved beyond financial crimes and now pose a broader challenge affecting public trust, social well-being, and confidence in the nation's digital ecosystem. "Combating scams cannot rest on enforcement alone. It requires a whole-of-society approach. Education remains one of the most effective forms of prevention," he stated.
Former director of Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf highlighted Southeast Asia's position as the global epicenter of commercial crime. Regional scam losses in 2025 are estimated to range between USD88 billion and USD114 billion, with organized scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines generating about USD40 billion annually.
Ramli noted that Malaysia has strengthened its response through the Cybersecurity Act 2024, enhanced compliance with Financial Action Task Force standards, and closer inter-agency coordination. However, he emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, technological innovation, and sustained public awareness as scam syndicates continue to evolve rapidly.
The program also featured a forum with discussions on emerging scam trends, commercial crime investigations, cybersecurity, digital trust, media literacy, and practical measures for protection against sophisticated scams. The discussions reinforced the need for stronger collaboration among various sectors in building a safer and more scam-resilient Malaysia.