How to avoid being Scammed in Malaysia: All you need to know

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Another day in Malaysia and another Malaysian is scammed or cheated. Online scams alone have involved billions of ringgit lost or stolen and new AI tools are enabling scammers as well. Once lost or stolen, recovering said assets can be near impossible (unless you’re really lucky). So, it is better to not get scammed in the first place by being aware of all the possible scams that exist here in Malaysia.

In our opinion, knowing is half the battle won so we’ve listed our top 3 common scams here in Malaysia. In addition, there are already many official online resources such as the Latest Trending Commercial Crimes ebook from PDRM, the Financial Consumer Alert list from Bank Negara Malaysia and more. Read on to avoid being scammed in Malaysia.

 

Common scams in Malaysia

  1. Phishing (.APK / TAC) ~ These scams trick you into providing access to your phone or bank account. When you allow an .APK to be installed from an unknown source these can hijack your phone and access your banking app. Or if you receive a message asking for a TAC “mistakenly” sent to your phone you could be giving access to your bank account.
  2. Phone Scam - Fake Parcel / LHDN Imposter / Loan Assistance ~ These are imposters who call you saying there’s a parcel in your name or you have outstanding LHDN payments or fines that have to be paid urgently. Or they say they can help you get a guaranteed approved loan for an extra fee. All of which are fake.  
  3. Investment Scam - Too good to be true / RM10000 for RM100 ~ These are often “get rich quick” scams where you are promised high-paying guaranteed returns on your investment, for example, RM10000 for just RM100. You often see them in social media or SMS and if they are “too good to be true” you should feel very suspicious about them.

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What should you do?

These are common steps that you can take when dealing with most of these suspected scams: 

  1. Keep calm. Take a deep breath.
  2. Read through or analyze the threat or invitation again.
  3. If it’s a .APK, don’t install it or tap on the link. 
  4. If it’s needed “urgently” ask for time and contact details and get back to them later.
  5. Check back with official sources and not the number that they provide.

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Official Anti-Scam Resources

The Malaysian government and banks have set up several platforms to help you stay protected:

  • National Scam Response Centre (NSRC): A 24/7 helpline to report scams. Call 997 for immediate assistance.
  • Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Alert List: A regularly updated list of unauthorized companies and websites to avoid.
  • PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) e-book on Latest Trending Commercial Crimes: Read this for more information and examples on other types of scams.
  • SemakMule: If you’ve received a suspicious bank account number, enter it in the field to check if it has been reported as a scam bank account. 

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Use the Latest Trending Commercial Crimes e-book by PDRM and the SemakMule site to check for scams in Malaysia

 

You don’t have to be the Scam victim!

Scams in Malaysia continue to evolve, but you don’t have to fall victim. By staying informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself and your finances. Always verify information and use official channels when in doubt.

Have you or someone you know been targeted by a scam? Share your story and tips in the comments below. As always, stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tips and updates on staying scam-free.