24-hour National Scam Response Centre launched as PM hopes to boost public awareness against scams

CYBERJAYA (March 3): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that enhancing public awareness is the central strategy in combating online fraud, alongside enforcement measures and strengthened operations through the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was the Prime Minister’s brief message, delivered to NSRC personnel during his visit to the operations centre, located on Level 17, Tower 2 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

He said the Prime Minister wants public awareness programmes intensified to ensure that the public does not easily fall victim to online scams.

“The Prime Minister stressed the importance of awareness programmes, so that we do not end up getting involved (becoming scam victims), which is sometimes driven by greed, or by offers that are perceived as highly lucrative if one chooses to participate,” he said.

He told reporters this after the Prime Minister launched the NSRC operations centre here today.

Saifuddin Nasution said the government is not only strengthening operations and coordination among agencies, but is also taking steps to amend legal provisions to curb cybercrime.

He added that amendments to the law, through Section 424 of the Penal Code, which came into force in October 2024, allow action to be taken against individuals who knowingly permit their accounts to be used, as financial or payment instruments, by scam syndicates.

“Previously, it was difficult to take action against account holders who allowed others to use their accounts. Now, if a person knowingly allows their account to be used, it constitutes an offence under the law,” he said.

At the same time, Saifuddin Nasution said the government has strengthened the capacity of the NSRC, with the addition of 82 personnel operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

He said that the increase in the number of complaints and calls received indicates growing public confidence, but stressed that all these efforts would be meaningless if the level of public awareness does not change.

“That is why we need to mobilise all available potential and resources, including the Commercial Crime Division of Bukit Aman, Bank Negara Malaysia, the MCMC, and the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC),” he said.

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the public should immediately contact the 997 hotline if they become victims of fraud.

“Insya-Allah, prompt calls from victims will enable banks to block the funds more quickly,” he said. – Bernama