You would think by now that most Malaysians have become better at spotting online scams than before, but it turns out that this is not the case yet. The recent data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) shows that between January and November 2025, there were 67735 online crime cases recorded nationwide, resulting in cumulative losses exceeding RM 2.7 billion.
Which Scams Cost the Most
According to the report, scam categories varied widely in both frequency and financial impact. The largest chunk of reported cases involved telecommunications scams (28698 cases), followed by e-commerce fraud (14881 cases).
But the biggest financial hit came from non-existent investment schemes: although fewer in number (9296 cases), these scams inflicted the highest total losses, about RM 1.37 billion. Other significant contributors to losses include e-finance fraud (RM 458.1 million), telecommunications crimes (RM 715.7 million), e-commerce fraud (RM 123.7 million), non-existent loans (RM 59.1 million) and romance/love scams (RM 43.7 million).
What This Spike Suggests
The scale of these numbers paints a troubling picture: cybercrime in Malaysia isn’t isolated incidents, it’s systemic, wide-ranging, and evolving fast. The fact that investment scams, often highly organised and complex, are the top source of losses suggests that scammers are targeting unsuspecting victims with sophisticated, high-reward bait.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of telecommunications and e-commerce fraud shows that everyday online users remain vulnerable across common services: calls, chats, messaging apps, and online marketplaces. Also, there is a new type of "Silent-Call" scam, whereby a random number would call a person but not say anything, but to record the voice for data with AI. You can read the news about it right here.
What You Should Do
Authorities urge anyone who becomes a victim to react quickly: immediately contact your bank to block suspicious transactions, and file a report with the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the 997 hotline, as well as lodge a police report.
But prevention is probably the strongest defence: be sceptical of “too good to be true” investment offers, double-check seller credentials in e-commerce platforms, avoid giving out personal or banking information over unknown calls or messages, and always verify requests or links before clicking. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
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