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SHAH ALAM – Malaysia has blocked more than 5.7 billion scam-related calls and short message service (SMS) messages, with the government now planning an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application to help the public identify potential scams before making financial transactions.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the new measure during the Budget 2027 tabling on Friday, saying the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) would develop the application to allow users to check suspicious phone numbers, bank accounts and links.
However, the 5.7 billion figure was not accompanied by a specific reporting period in the announcement, making it difficult to determine how the latest total compares with earlier enforcement data.
In July, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), working with telecommunications service providers, had blocked 2.5 billion suspected scam calls and 3.04 billion suspicious SMS messages between Jan 1, 2022, and June 30, 2026.
The figures amounted to 5.54 billion blocked calls and messages over four and a half years, providing a baseline for understanding the scale of enforcement before the latest announcement.
However, the figures alone do not establish how many individual scam attempts were made, how many people were targeted or how much money victims ultimately lost.
The July parliamentary reply also showed that 190,429 mobile and fixed telephone lines linked to suspicious messaging activity were terminated during the same period.
MCMC also submitted 275,787 requests to online service providers to remove scam-related content, including fake accounts and impersonation cases, with 262,293 items removed following assessments.
Separately, MCMC received and processed 158 complaints related to scam calls between Jan 1 and July 7, 2026, including cases involving people impersonating government officials.
The enforcement measures form part of broader efforts to curb fraud carried out through communications services and online platforms.
Since Sept 1, 2024, telecommunications service providers have been required to block prohibited SMS messages containing hyperlinks, requests for personal information and callback numbers.
The planned AI application would add another layer of prevention by allowing users to check suspicious details before proceeding with transactions, rather than relying solely on enforcement after fraudulent activity has been detected.
The government is also strengthening online safety measures under Budget 2027, including upgrading the Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children system with advanced analytical tools to detect offenders and child sexual exploitation networks earlier.
Anwar said MCMC would also expand its Safer Internet Campaign to all schools, focusing on cyberbullying and child exploitation.
Members of the public are advised to report suspected scam numbers, accounts and online content to service providers and the relevant authorities.
Those who have transferred money or suffered financial losses due to scams should contact the NSRC at 997 immediately to enable swift action to block fund transfers and support investigations.
