During the first nine months of this year, telecommunications companies, following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) directive, blocked a total of 410.59 million unsolicited Short Message Services (SMS).
Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching revealed that 19 million SMS containing hyperlinks were blocked from 2 May to September in an effort to combat online scams encompassing websites, social media accounts, SMS, and calls, according to a news report by Bernama.
Teo said that, despite these efforts, there is no foolproof solution to block all scams, as scammers can still register new names to send phishing messages.
On 14 February, MCMC consistently instructed all telcos to immediately block SMS containing prohibited content, intensifying their battle against online scams.
Furthermore, Teo noted that from January to 31 October, MCMC took down 4,013 accounts and fraudulent content, along with blocking 1,764 fake websites involved in information phishing scams.
Regarding online fraud, Teo pointed out that it constitutes the most reported cybersecurity incident to Cyber999, operated by CyberSecurity Malaysia. Out of 4,898 incident reports received between January and October, a significant 3,087 cases were related to online fraud.
This situation underscores the gravity of the issue, prompting the need for more comprehensive and creative efforts, initiatives, and campaigns to combat online fraud across all segments of society.
She also highlighted the “Runhack: Scam Alert! 2023” program as a platform to raise awareness about this crime among the public. This initiative is not only beneficial for young people and adults but also for senior citizens, as online fraud knows no age boundaries.
The five-kilometre run, scheduled to take place at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on 3 December, anticipates the participation of 2,000 individuals.
Participants will engage in various activities designed to test their awareness and understanding of online fraud and related issues at multiple checkpoints.
