KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded RM1.224bil in losses from online crime and scams from January to October, says Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
“Alarmingly, scammers have now begun posing as representatives of the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), falsely claiming they can help recover stolen money.
“Victims, desperate to recoup their losses, often fall for these secondary scams, further compounding their financial woes,” she said, stressing that the AGC does not provide such services.
She said 274 sponsored posts impersonating AGC agents were removed from Facebook within a week.
“The fact that these posts were paid advertisements highlights the indirect complicity of platform providers like Meta, which profit from such content,” she said at the launch of the “Teens, Tech, and Trust: Navigating Social Media in Malaysia” white paper here on Monday (Dec 16).
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The white paper was published by the think tank Social and Economic Research Initiative (Seri).
Teo said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been actively removing harmful online content, collaborating with platform providers to take down 255,745 posts this year.
Of these, she said scams accounted for 21.5% (56,294 posts), while online gambling made up the majority at 63.59% (167,042 posts).
Highlighting the danger of obscene content online, Teo said from December 2022 to this month, 1,947 pieces of harmful content involving child exploitation were removed, with 71.2% related to child sexual abuse.
“As a mother, this is deeply concerning,” she said, urging further collaboration to protect vulnerable groups from online harm.
Teo also discussed the growing influence of social media on teenagers, describing it as a double-edged sword.
She said platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Xiao Hong Shu foster creativity and social connection but also expose teenagers to risks of cyberbullying, scams and online exploitation.
"This white paper provides valuable recommendations on how to address these risks while retaining the benefits of social media,” she said, adding that balancing the advantages and dangers of social media is an urgent challenge.
She highlighted the government’s recent efforts to enhance online safety, including the Online Safety Bill, amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and the introduction of licensing for major internet platforms from Jan 1.
“These measures represent significant progress, but legislation alone cannot solve the multifaceted challenges of social media,” Teo said.
She said stakeholder collaboration and innovation were vital to address social media risks effectively.
“We must empower teenagers with tools for safe and responsible digital engagement while providing timely support for those facing harm,” she said.
She was confident that insights from the white paper would serve as a foundation for further action, ensuring social media becomes a safer space for all, particularly teenagers.
