Scam victims recover just 1pc of RM1.23b lost over past decade, Parliament told

A police officer stands beside the National Scam Response Centre logo at Menara 2 MCMC in Cyberjaya, Selangor on March 3, 2026. — Picture by Yusof Isa

By Malay Mail

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 11:17 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Financial scam victims have recovered roughly RM14 million since the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) began operating four years ago, recouping barely 1.1 per cent of the RM1.23 billion siphoned by fraudulent syndicates over the past decade, according to Home Ministry figures tabled in Parliament.

In a recent written reply to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, the ministry disclosed that federal police e-finance crime registries logged 18,213 victims between 2016 and August 2026, representing an average loss of approximately RM67,500 per victim.

Since commencing operations on Oct 12, 2022, the NSRC has facilitated the return of RM14.01 million to affected depositors.

However, asset recovery has picked up noticeable momentum this year. Between January and August, authorities seized RM9.14 million in illicit transactions and restored RM6.67 million to victims, accounting for nearly half of all funds recovered throughout the NSRC’s four-year operational history and roughly 73 per cent of total assets impounded during the eight-month stretch.

“The government continues to strengthen the operations of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) through the 997 hotline, which operates 24 hours a day.

“Immediate action within the first 24 hours, or the ‘golden hours’, is very important so that the flow of money can be traced and earmarked for freezing before going through the seizure process and subsequently being returned to victims,” the ministry said.

On the prosecution front, authorities brought 1,754 criminal charges relating to financial scam offences over the same decade. Investigators are leveraging financial forensic tracking to dismantle commercial money-mule rings, reinforced by statutory provisions under Sections 424A to 424D of the Penal Code that penalise individuals who surrender, possess, or facilitate bank accounts and payment instruments for unlawful purposes.

Acknowledging that cyber fraud cannot be contained by policing alone, the ministry noted that law enforcement coordinates closely with Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, banking institutions, and telecommunication carriers to enforce immediate account freezes and terminate syndicate phone numbers, forming what it described as “shared accountability” across the financial and digital ecosystem.

On public prevention, the police force’s SemakMule verification portal, which allows internet users to screen suspect bank accounts, phone numbers, and company registrations before executing online transfers, has recorded more than 77 million visitors since its launch in October 2020.

To combat syndicates operating beyond domestic borders, federal investigators continue to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement actions with Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Asean Cybercrime Cooperation Programme.