BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A new Scamwatch Portal aimed at speeding up online scam reporting and improving the chances of recovering victims’ money is targeted to begin operations in Brunei in the second quarter of 2027.
Currently in the final stages of beta testing, the portal will enable scam information to be channelled more quickly, supporting efforts to block fund transfers before money is lost.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Mohammed Riza Mohammed Yunos shared this during Monday’s (Aug 10) Second Meeting of the 22nd Legislative Council (LegCo) session.
He was responding to a question from LegCo member Awang Amran Maidin on government measures to strengthen cybercrime prevention and enforcement, cooperation with financial institutions and protection for victims amid increasing online scams.
The minister said cooperation with the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank and local banks will continue to be strengthened to enable the rapid restriction of accounts and transactions suspected of being linked to scams.
Measures including transaction authentication, limits and immediate alerts for unusual or suspicious transactions will also continue to be strengthened.
“In online scam cases, time is critical. The sooner a report is received and action is taken, the greater the opportunity to block the transfer of funds and recover victims’ money,” he said.
The minister said online scams are becoming increasingly complex, using telephone calls, social media, fraudulent websites and unlicensed investment schemes. Government efforts are focused on four areas: prevention and public awareness, enforcement and legal action, cooperation with financial institutions, and victim protection and recovery.
The Anti Scam Centre (ASC), involving the Royal Brunei Police Force, Cyber Security Brunei, the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), Brunei Darussalam Central Bank and other agencies, coordinates efforts to combat online scams. Its 16993 helpline, operational since August 2025, provides assistance and guidance to members of the public affected by scams.
Cyber and digital forensic capabilities will also be strengthened, alongside cooperation with international enforcement agencies and Asean partners to tackle cross-border cybercrime. Prevention efforts include AITI’s Waspada.bn platform, launched in June 2025 to provide fact-checking and address false information. As of July 1, 2026, its Instagram account had published 226 posts in Malay and English.
Digital literacy and cybersecurity education will also be expanded, including at educational institutions, to build awareness of evolving scam tactics from an early age.
The minister said the government aims to move from a reactive approach towards one that is more proactive, integrated and prevention-based, while ensuring victims receive assistance and the best possible opportunity to recover their money.
He added that success should not be measured solely by cases investigated or enforcement action taken, but also by preventing people from becoming victims and reducing financial losses.
“In tackling cybercrime, digital security is a shared responsibility,” he said. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
