Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to officiate the new National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) office at Tower 2 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Cyberjaya next month.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the establishment of the new office is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen its response to online scam cases and improve the recovery of victims’ funds, provided reports are made promptly.
He said the NSRC, which previously operated from Sasana Kijang at Bank Negara Malaysia, has been relocated to MCMC Tower 2 to allow for more efficient and integrated operations.
“The relocation enables the centre to function more effectively, with enhanced coordination and improved response capabilities,” he told Bernama in a recent exclusive interview.
Fahmi said the move has also allowed the NSRC to operate 24 hours a day with an expanded workforce. When the centre was first launched on Oct 12, 2022, it received between 300 and 400 calls daily and operated from 8am to 8pm. Since relocating to MCMC Tower 2 on Nov 17, daily call volumes have increased to between 500 and 700.
He said the increase highlights the NSRC’s role as the primary channel for the public to seek immediate assistance to prevent further financial losses.
Fahmi urged scam victims to contact the NSRC via the 997 hotline within 30 to 60 minutes of an incident to improve the chances of recovering transferred funds, warning that delays could significantly hinder recovery efforts.
He said the centre, which operates under the Home Ministry, will continue to be strengthened to ensure swift action, particularly in freezing accounts and tracking the movement of funds involved in online scam cases.
The NSRC’s rapid-response capability has also been reinforced through closer cooperation between the Royal Malaysia Police and commercial banks, with bank representatives now stationed at the new operations centre to facilitate faster action.
Fahmi said preliminary analysis showed that online scam activities often follow specific time patterns, and that delayed reporting remains a major obstacle to fund recovery.
“Based on the data collected, further measures may be introduced, including enhanced cooperation with commercial banks. Past actions taken by banks have shown positive results, and additional proposals are being considered,” he said.
He also stressed that the government does not differentiate between victims of online scams, regardless of whether they were deceived through investment schemes or other methods, as all forms of online fraud constitute criminal offences.
“What defines a scam is fraud itself. Any form of online fraud is a crime, regardless of the victim’s belief or motivation,” he said.
Fahmi added that several laws have been amended to clearly define online fraud and ensure enforcement is carried out consistently in all cases.
