KUALA LUMPUR: Police have opened more than 165,000 investigation papers into online scam cases since 2023, with nearly 45,000 suspects arrested and over RM8.7mil in criminal assets seized, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“Between 2023 and May 2026, the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) opened 165,501 investigation papers involving online scams such as love scams, e-commerce fraud and investment scams.
"Of this total, 60,955 cases have been successfully resolved, while 24,681 cases have been charged in court,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar).
Chong had asked the Home Ministry to state the progress of investigations and enforcement actions against online fraud syndicates operating in Malaysia as well as the amount of assets that have been successfully seized since 2023.
Saifuddin said police also carried out 43,343 special operations targeting illegal scam call centres nationwide, leading to the arrest of 44,990 individuals suspected of involvement in online fraud.
To cripple the syndicates' financial networks, he said authorities also traced and seized assets under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
He said assets worth RM6.66mil were confiscated in 2025, while another RM2.07mil was seized between January and May this year.
"The seizures involved cash, vehicles and electronic devices," he said.
Saifuddin also acknowledged concerns raised by Chong over the link between online scam syndicates and human exploitation.
He said police investigations had confirmed the existence of digital forced labour in Malaysia, with scam syndicates evolving into organised cybercrime operations.
"Victims are often confined in luxury condominiums, have their passports confiscated and are forced to work under physical threats," he said.
He said the Home Ministry had taken firm action under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 to tackle exploitation at scam centres.
Between 2023 and May 31 this year, he said police opened 18 investigation papers involving human exploitation at such premises, arrested 54 suspected syndicate leaders and members, including 28 Malaysians and 26 foreigners, and rescued 178 individuals.
Of those rescued, 62 foreign nationals were officially recognised as trafficking victims and placed under Protection Orders, with repatriation to their home countries carried out in cooperation with their respective embassies.
Saifuddin said the ministry would continue strengthening integrated enforcement efforts in line with the National Security Policy to eradicate online scam activities and prevent them from fuelling human trafficking in Malaysia.
