Fast, factual wire coverage from across Malaysia and the region.
Malaysia recorded 8,014 online fraud charges by May 2024, far exceeding last year's total. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid urged Parliament to strengthen cybercrime laws through a new comprehensive bill.
Perak police have dismantled what authorities believe were organised romance fraud operations in Ipoh, detaining a dozen Chinese nationals across two coordinated raids in mid-July.
Perak police have arrested 18 Chinese nationals in coordinated raids near Ipoh as part of a crackdown on an alleged organised online scam syndicate. The operation signals growing regional concerns about cross-border digital fraud.
Cambodia has expelled more than 16,000 foreign suspects involved in online scams during the first six months of 2026, marking an escalation in the nation's battle against cybercrime networks that have damaged its international standing.
Malaysia's domestic trade ministry has unveiled a new consumer awareness campaign in partnership with e-commerce platform Shopee and police to combat a dramatic surge in online fraud cases that have cost the nation over RM4.54 billion.
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Malaysian authorities have intensified efforts against cybercrime, with police making over 45,000 arrests linked to online fraud schemes since 2023 and opening more than 165,000 investigation files in response to the growing digital threat.
Malaysia's online fraud losses have surged dramatically to RM2.97 billion in 2025, nearly doubling from RM1.57 billion the previous year, according to the Home Ministry.
Malaysia's Parliament has begun considering the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, which would replace the outdated 1997 law with modernised provisions targeting computer-based crimes, online fraud, and digital system violations.
Authorities in Ipoh have arrested three individuals, including two Chinese nationals, for allegedly furnishing communication equipment to organised online scam operations that target victims across the region.
Ho Chi Minh City police have shut down multiple criminal networks that brought foreign nationals into Vietnam to operate large-scale online fraud schemes, arresting 26 suspects and seizing hundreds of electronic devices.
Police have arrested nine foreign nationals of varying origins at Pengkalan Kubor in Kelantan on suspicion of running an organised online scam operation from Malaysian soil.
A magistrates court in Bukit Mertajam has convicted and fined six foreign nationals—five Chinese citizens and one Taiwanese man—RM9,000 each for perpetrating online romance scams against members of their own communities.
Malaysia's online scam losses nearly doubled to RM2.97 billion in 2025, driven by a sharp rise in fraud cases. Investment scams accounted for nearly half the losses as crime syndicates exploit digital platforms.
Romance scams are among the fastest-growing online frauds, with criminals using AI to create convincing fake identities. Global losses now reach billions of dollars annually, affecting victims across continents.