A total of RM34 million from scam activities was successfully recovered last year, a significant increase from RM508,479.39 recorded in 2024, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He explained that the success came from the 24-hour operations of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), which previously operated only during office hours, along with an increase in NSRC personnel.
“The recovered funds were traced under Subsections 424A, B, and C of the Penal Code, and the money was not moved through multiple layers,” he said. “Overall, based on data collected from victim reports, a total of RM542 million was lost to scams last year.”
He was responding to a question from Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong) in the Dewan Rakyat regarding the number of individuals charged and convicted under the new Penal Code Subsections 424A to 424D targeting mule accounts, and how many victims managed to recover their money.
Saifuddin said under Subsection 424A, 51 cases were reported so far, with 20 prosecuted in court and three classified as no further action. Under 424B, there is one case still under investigation; 424C has 10 cases, all under investigation; and 424D has no reported or investigated cases.
According to the ministry’s data, victims of scams mainly include private sector employees, civil servants, retirees, students, and businesspeople. The scams involve financial crimes such as love scams, e-commerce fraud, fake loans, fake investments, and telecom-related crimes.
The minister added that the government, through relevant agencies, continuously collaborates and holds engagement sessions with ASEAN counterparts to explore the best strategies for combating scams.
