SHAH ALAM, Oct 22 — Approximately RM2,569,655.7 or 46.42 per cent of defrauded monies have been returned to the scam victims, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Ministry, in collaboration with financial institutions, has taken action to protect victims from suffering financial losses by tracing the flow of funds and complement transaction blocks or earmarking.
“Between January and April 2026, a total of RM4,071,805.43 was successfully recovered through earmarking, while RM5,535,841.10 was seized.
“Of the seized funds, RM2,569,655.73 or 46.42% has been returned to the victims,” he said in a Parliamentary written reply yesterday.
Saifuddin was responding to Merbok MP Mohd Nazri bin Abu Hassan’s query on the primary causes and types of online fraud that accounted for the 5,944 reports received by the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via its service hotline as of April this year, including the total reported losses and the amount of victims' funds that were successfully blocked or recovered.
He added that online fraud is a growing and complex white-collar threat driven by the rapid advancement of digital technology and the swift evolution of criminals.
Scammers exploit digital technology and use fake identities to deceive victims, while using social media, messaging apps, and digital platforms to reach victims more easily and quickly and presenting various offers that appear genuine and convincing.
The minister said that the human element is exploited through social engineering techniques that manipulate victims' trust, emotions, and lapses in judgment, as well as their desire for substantial gains or returns within a short period.
“The cross-border nature of these crimes involving syndicates operating from abroad and utilizing identities, accounts, and digital infrastructure that span multiple jurisdictions further contributes to the proliferation of such criminal activity,” Saifuddin said.
He noted that the NSRC has recorded six primary modus operandi employed by scammers and syndicates.
“The three methods of operation (modus operandi) that recorded the highest number of cases were e-Belian with 2,405 cases, followed by telecommunications-related crimes with 1,026 cases, and non-existent loans with 894 cases.
“During the same period, the total losses recorded amounted to RM125.29 million,” Saifuddin said.
In response, the NSRC will continue to strengthen coordination with relevant agencies and financial institutions to ensure a faster response to online fraud cases.
The efforts will also focus on intercepting the flow of illicit funds, improving the chances of recovering victims' money, and strengthening the effectiveness of enforcement actions against the syndicates involved.
