Scam response centre to operate 24 hours, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) is in the process of extending its operations to 24 hours a day to assist fraud victims, says the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, said Bank Negara has requested all banks to offer automated services to stop issuing money immediately in the event of fraud.

“The proposal to increase the operating hours of NSRC has been accepted but Bank Negara has suggested an automated system for victims to ask to stop the (fraudulent) withdrawal of money from (their accounts),” he told the Dewan Rakyat during Prime Minister's Question Time on Tuesday (May 23).

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Anwar was responding to a question by Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri), who wanted to know if the government planned to extend NSRC operating hours so fraud victims could seek help at any time.

Anwar also said a review of the law was ongoing to amend the relevant legislation and allow the return of monies to fraud victims.

“Most of the victims have pleaded for their money to be returned as court cases are lengthy.

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“The issue is how to return the money taken from the victims (while) the cases are ongoing,

“What has been decided is to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to allow the immediate return of the money while the court cases are ongoing, with the condition that a bond is in place,” he said in reply to Tan's supplementary question on measures to allow victims to regain their stolen money.

Anwar added that 3,595 investigation papers for fraud and 33 for misappropriation, involving RM34.8mil in total, have been opened by police and are under active investigation.

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NSRC statistics showed that a total of 30,069 calls were received until April this year.

Out of this, 11,858 calls were fraud reports with total losses valued at RM104.8mil.

In February, Anwar said when tabling the revised Budget 2023 that the government had allocated RM10mil to combat rising online fraud.