In case you didn't receive it, a few of us have gotten an SMS from our respective telcos. Starting on 2 July 2023, SMS containing links, requesting personal data and phone numbers will be blocked to prevent online fraud.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) started this move in February this year and instructed various telco companies to do the same to reduce online scams. Previously, some have already started in May by blocking URLs in SMSes so it's nice to add on to our mobile phone numbers next month.
Should any users want to send links or phone numbers, they will have to use other social messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, etc. That being said, we must remain vigilant because scammers tend to use personal numbers to pretend as representatives from companies (which none of them do so unless stated otherwise on their official website).
Recently, Telegram announced that it will be working closely with MCMC and the PDRM to combat cybercrimes on its platform. Moreover, CIMB and Maybank will soon move SecureTAC approvals from SMSes to their apps to be safer.
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