KUALA LUMPUR: Financial scams resulted in losses of RM1.23bil involving 18,213 victims between 2016 and August this year, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said 1,754 charges were brought in connection with such offences during the same period, based on police records.
He also said RM14.01mil had been successfully returned to victims since the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) began operations on Oct 12, 2022, up to August this year.
“Between January and August this year alone, RM9.14mil was seized, of which RM6.67mil was returned to victims,” he said in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday (Nov 3).
He was responding to Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan), who asked about the number of financial scam victims and the losses involved, as well as the prosecution action taken each year since 2016.
Saifuddin added that the government continues to strengthen the operations of the NSRC through its 24-hour hotline, 997.
The police, he said, have also intensified their efforts through intelligence-based investigations and financial forensic analysis, including tracing money flows, uncovering networks of mule accounts and conducting integrated operations and targeted arrests of fraud syndicates.
“Enforcement has also been strengthened through the implementation of Sections 424A to 424D of the Penal Code, which provide for penalties for offences involving the use of accounts and payment instruments for criminal purposes.
“The government also continues to strengthen strategic cooperation between the police, financial institutions, telecommunications companies and domestic and international enforcement agencies.
"This is through information-sharing, integrated operations and technical support to enhance capabilities in preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting fraud syndicates,” he said.
In terms of prevention, the government is also stepping up efforts to promote the use of the SemakMule Portal, which recorded more than 77 million visitors as at September 2026.
Saifuddin said this reflects the growing public awareness of the importance of conducting such checks as a preventive measure against online scams.
He said that, given that online scam syndicates also operate across borders, the government continues to strengthen international cooperation through platforms and collaborative networks involving Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Asean Cybercrime Cooperation Programme (ACCP) to enhance information exchange, investigative cooperation and action against cross-border fraud.
“The ministry, through the police, continues to work closely with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) and relevant industry players to curb the misuse of the financial system, telecommunications networks and digital platforms,” he said.
