Starting this September, the public can contact the 997 hotline at any time to report online scams. The line will operate 24 hours a day under the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), now managed by the Royal Malaysian Police.
The move aims to strengthen the government’s response to the growing number of online scam cases affecting individuals across the country.
Calls to 997 Now Count as Police Reports
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching confirmed that any call made to 997 will now be recognised as an official police report. Victims are no longer required to visit a police station to lodge a separate report.
This update is intended to reduce delays and make it easier for the public to take immediate action after falling victim to a scam.
Over 46,000 Scam Ads Detected as of Mid-July 2025
As of 15 July 2025, authorities detected 46,817 scam-related advertisements. A significant number of these were found on social media platforms, with Facebook accounting for around 80% of the total.
These ads often misuse the names and images of public figures to appear legitimate and gain trust.
Use of Public Figures’ Names and Photos a Growing Concern
Teo revealed that she had also been targeted by scammers who used her photo in a fraudulent advertisement offering free books, falsely linked to her role as a former deputy education minister.
Although the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) succeeded in removing the original ads, similar versions were later uploaded by other accounts. She expressed concern over Meta’s handling of these repeat offences.
Efforts to Improve Scam Prevention and Enforcement
The upgraded NSRC hotline is part of a broader initiative to improve scam response efforts in Malaysia. With faster access to enforcement channels and reduced reporting barriers, authorities hope to limit the impact of financial fraud and cybercrime.
The public is encouraged to use the 997 line immediately if they suspect they have been targeted by an online scam.
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