A TOTAL of 2.6 billion calls suspected to be involved in online criminal activities were blocked by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Dewan Rakyat was told.
According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Ramkarpal Singh, the efforts to block the calls were done in cooperation with the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
He added that from October last year to August this year, 1,732 cases were referred to the MCMC and 134 phone numbers were terminated due to involvement in fraudulent activities while 21 suspicious phone numbers were blocked.
“The MCMC also blocked websites to prevent violations of the country’s laws involving fraud and scam-related activities.
“From Jan 1 to Aug 30 this year, 1,247 websites related to phishing scams were blocked by the MCMC,” he told Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah) who asked about total losses and the number of scam victims this year.
According to Ramkarpal, 25,609 cases were recorded involving losses of RM23bil in 2018. From January to September this year, 19,222 fraud cases involving losses of RM687mil were recorded.
“On prosecutions and penalties on scam cases from 2021 to July this year, 183 charges were made under Section 417 of the Penal Code and 617 individuals were sentenced,” he added.
Ramkarpal said from 2021 to July this year, 22,837 charges were filed under Section 420 of the Penal Code and 2,221 individuals were charged.
“From October 2022 to Sept 30 this year, the NSRC received 53,783 calls on reports of fraud,” he added.
Ikmal Hisham asked whether there were insiders within banks who are allegedly selling information of customers to scammers. Ramkarpal said there was a possibility that there were some insiders in banks selling the information.
“This is a very complex case involving experienced scammers,” he added.
Ramkarpal said that the NSRC was also examining several existing legal provisions that might need to be amended, including the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
