Tag: cybercrime

Study Underway To Strengthen Cybercrime Victim Protection – Azalina

PUTRAJAYA, July 7 -- The government is conducting a special study to develop a more comprehensive protection mechanism for cybercrime victims, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said the study by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) would examine measures to assist online scam victims in recovering lost funds, as well as the possibility of introducing stricter penalties for offenders. BHEUU would also review best practices from other countries in protecting victims’ rights and assess their suitability for implementation in Malaysia, she said. “BHEUU is conducting an in-depth study on issues involving victims, including cybercrime, online harms and digital offences. “Some countries have different approaches, such as Singapore, where offenders can face caning as part of their punishment. In Malaysia, the penalties currently involve fines and imprisonment, so this is something we will study,” she told a press conference after attending the National Cyber Security Summit (NCSS) 2026 here today. Azalina said Malaysia’s existing legal framework focuses mainly on prosecuting offenders under laws such as the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, while protection for victims requires further review. “We want to study what other countries have in place, including the types of penalties and measures to support victims. “Currently, victims often have limited options apart from making a report. In some cases, they do not recover their lost money,” she said. She said mechanisms adopted in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, where online scam victims may receive refunds under certain circumstances, would be among the areas examined. “In the UK and Australia, when a person becomes a victim of an online scam, the banks involved refund the victim’s money. “In Malaysia, Bank Negara has yet to decide on such a mechanism, but it is being considered as part of the study,” she said, adding that the timeline for completing the study had yet to be determined. -- BERNAMA 

PUTRAJAYA, July 7 — The government is conducting a special study to develop a more comprehensive protection mechanism for cybercrime victims, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said the study by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) would examine measures to assist online scam victims […]

Online fraud losses reached RM2.97 billion last year – IGP

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 15 -- Losses due to online fraud crimes in 2025 will reach RM2.97 billion, an increase of RM1.40 billion compared to RM1.57 billion the previous year, indicating an increasingly worrying trend in cybercrime. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said that of the total, non-existent investment fraud recorded the highest loss value of RM1.47 billion. He said a total of 66,204 cases of online fraud were recorded in 2025, an increase of 87 percent compared to 35,368 cases in 2024. "Phone scams remain a major threat with 28,388 cases reported in 2025," he said when speaking at the "Fight Scams: Two Teams, One Goal" Launching Ceremony here today. Also present were Public Bank Bhd Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tay Ah Lek, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) Director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa and Bukit Aman department directors. Mohd Khalid said the recorded figures were not just statistics, but rather involved thousands of victims who lost their source of income and future as a result of being deceived by fraud syndicates. He said in the rapidly developing era of digitalization, fraud syndicates are constantly updating their tactics and modus operandi by exploiting technological advances and the sophistication of modern communication platforms. "Therefore, prevention, education and cultural awareness efforts in digital security are now urgent priorities and need to be continuously strengthened," he said. Mohd Khalid also welcomed the implementation of the PB Scam Rangers Program , which is the result of a strategic collaboration between JSJK and Public Bank Bhd, which is described as a progressive step in strengthening financial literacy and cyber security among the community. "Through an approach that focuses on public education, we are able to form a society that is more sensitive, knowledgeable and has high resilience against various forms of criminal manipulation and fraud," he said. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 15 — Losses due to online fraud crimes in 2025 will reach RM2.97 billion, an increase of RM1.40 billion compared to RM1.57 billion the previous year, indicating an increasingly worrying trend in cybercrime. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said that of the total, non-existent investment fraud recorded the highest […]