Sharp rise in losses from online scams

KUALA LUMPUR: Losses from online fraud nationwide increased sharply from RM1.57 billion in 2024 to RM2.97 billion in 2025, and reached RM830 million in the first five months of this year.

The home ministry said that non-existent investment scams consistently recorded the highest losses, amounting to RM848.62 million in 2024, rising to RM1.46 billion in 2025 and totalling RM361.63 million so far this year.

In a written parliamentary reply, the ministry said the trend was closely followed by telecommunications scams, which caused losses of RM497.12 million in 2024, RM802.47 million in 2025, and RM235.63 million as of May 2026.

Losses from love scams stood at RM45.87 million in 2024, RM47.44 million in 2025, and RM17.76 million so far this year.

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur continued to record the highest losses.

Selangor’s losses rose from RM446.16 million in 2024 to RM986.79 million in 2025, while Kuala Lumpur’s increased from RM293.30 million to RM782.86 million over the same period.

Other states such as Johor, Penang, and Perak also recorded significant year-on-year increases between 2024 and 2025, while Sabah and Sarawak showed a similar trend, with losses exceeding RM110 million in 2025.

The ministry was responding to a question from Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee on trends in online fraud losses over the past three years by category and state, as well as the recovery rate of victims’ funds and measures taken to improve detection, freezing, and restitution efforts.

The home ministry reiterated its commitment to combating online crime by strengthening the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), which operates 24 hours a day and takes swift action to freeze bank accounts and impose transaction restrictions.

Since its establishment in 2022, the NSRC has successfully frozen RM32.49 million in scam-related funds, of which RM10.9 million has been returned to victims.

“Based on statistics from 2022 to 2025, a total of RM25.2 million was frozen, with 29% (RM7.3 million) returned to victims. For the period of January to May 2026, RM7.25 million was frozen, with RM3.57 million, or 49%, returned to victims.

“The increase in percentage of funds returned shows that the NSRC is becoming more effective as a national scam response centre and gaining greater public trust,” the ministry said.