The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) has recovered and returned RM14.3 million to online scam victims and prevented RM100.93 million in losses since it began operating on 12 October 2022, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
Winding up the Supply Bill 2027 debate for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat on 27 October, he said the 997 hotline received 468,675 calls up to August 2026, with reported losses totalling RM1.2 billion.
He said Malaysia’s losses were relatively low compared with the estimated US$20 billion lost across Southeast Asia, but efforts needed to be stepped up.
From 2023 to August 2026, police carried out 61,363 operations against online scams. Those arrested in raids on scam call centres included 36 masterminds, 74 managers, 165 supervisors, 118 people handling mule accounts, 132 IT programmers and about 8,500 operators.
Saifuddin urged victims to call 997 immediately and to check phone numbers through Semak Mule before making any transaction.
On drugs, he said 80 per cent of the country’s supply comes from abroad, and that police had dismantled drug laboratories worth RM5 billion as of September.