Malaysia’s online scam losses hit RM2.77 billion in 2024, with investment fraud dominating, prompting a nationwide safety campaign.

KULAI: The Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is stepping up its Safe Internet Campaign at all levels of the community following a sharp rise in online scam cases, which recorded losses of RM2.77 billion last year, said Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said the figure reflects a worrying upward trend compared with RM1.28 billion in 2023 and RM1.57 billion in 2024, with investment scams accounting for the largest share of the losses.

“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,” she said after attending the community outreach programme with e-commerce platform Shopee in Felda Bukit Permai here today.

On the campaign, Teo, who is also Kulai MP, said the ministry adopts different approaches for different target groups to ensure digital awareness messages are effectively delivered, with cyberbullying emphasised at primary school level.

At community level, such as in Felda settlements, villages and housing areas, the focus is on scam-related issues, while students in secondary schools and higher education institutions are educated on job scam risks and the dangers of mule accounts.

As of April 30, she said the campaign has been carried out in 10,134 schools, comprising national schools, vernacular schools, secondary schools, as well as teacher training institutes and higher education institutions, reaching nearly 900,000 participants.

At the programme, 200 residents of Felda Bukit Permai received essential goods packs under a strategic collaboration with Shopee, in addition to health screening services and a Safe Internet Campaign briefing by staff of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI).

 The Sun Malaysia