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COMMUNICATIONS Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil wants WhatsApp to improve verification of phone numbers linked to its accounts, amid growing concerns that scammers are using the messaging platform to deceive the public.
He said the government was examining the issue following reports that scammers had misused phone numbers and WhatsApp accounts, including by impersonating Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officers.
“At present, WhatsApp does not require users to verify their accounts.
“But recently, at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), I heard many countries raise concerns about WhatsApp being misused for scam calls. “So one measure many countries are taking is to verify the identity and phone number linked to a WhatsApp account,” he said.
Fahmi said MCMC would never call members of the public to warn them that their phone lines would be disconnected or that they had unpaid bills, emphasising that such matters were handled directly by telecommunications companies.
“Many people have complained about receiving calls from individuals claiming to represent MCMC and telling them they have outstanding telephone bills.
“MCMC does not handle such matters. That is the responsibility of the telecommunications companies themselves,” he said.
He stressed that neither the Communications Ministry nor MCMC would make outgoing calls for enforcement purposes.
He added that MCMC was not responsible for taking enforcement action over unpaid bills involving telecommunications companies.
Fahmi said authorities would act against those involved in the scams. Suspects would be arrested, detained and investigated, and could be charged in court if they were found to have broken the law.
He added that the ministry was also considering further network-level measures to curb scam calls, following technical measures previously introduced by MCMC to limit caller ID spoofing. – November 15, 2026
