Over RM1.6bil lost to online scammers from 2019-2021, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians lost over RM1.6bil to online scams over the last three years, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Jonathan Yasin(pic).

"Between 2019 and 2021, a total of 51,631 cases were recorded resulting in losses amounting to RM1,611,398,080 due to such crimes," he said in reply to Su Keong Siong (PH-Kampar) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 14).

He noted that the highest number of scams involved online purchases, of which a total of 18,857 cases were recorded in that period.

This was followed by nonexistent loan scams (15,546 cases).

"A total of 26,359 arrests were made in efforts by the police to clamp down on syndicates (perpetrating) online scams in that period," he added.

Of those, 16,029 were brought to court and charged.

He noted that police had set up a hotline number for its scam response centre, as well as a Facebook page and portal for members of the public to check on known methods of fraud.

Earlier, Mohamad Sabu (PH-Kota Raja) told the House that he almost became a victim of an online scam.

He said he received a message from a man claiming to be a police officer asking for financial help for his mother's funeral expenses.

"Luckily I checked with the OCPD before transferring money to the account as I was informed that there was no such officer serving in his district," Mohamad said.

On a separate matter, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said his ministry received a total of 24,011 reports on online cheating from 2020 to Feb 17 this year.

He told Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PH-Pandan) that those cases had resulted in RM21.7mil in total losses.

The minister said the cases were separate from the criminal cases reported to the police.

He added that laws addressing online cheating and to aid consumers will be tabled in Parliament during this current meeting.