RM5.16 Million in Scam Victims’ Money Returned as of July – Saifuddin

BANGI: A total of RM5.16 million, or 65 percent of the RM7.94 million seized during raids on scam syndicates, has been returned to victims between January and July this year.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) are working with strategic partners to freeze and return money stolen by scam syndicates.

“What we hope for is that the victims’ money can be returned, as that is the justice they can feel.

“The method (to return the money to victims) is that we must stop every layer of transactions, and that is what is being done through (the NSRC),” he said.

He said this after officiating the sixth International Cyber Resilience Convention at a hotel in Bandar Baru Bangi today.

Saifuddin said criminals, including scam syndicates, also exploit victims across borders.

“A total of 746 Malaysians have fallen victim to fake job offers abroad for the period up to 28 August.

“Through Op Pintas Khas, PDRM successfully rescued 138 victims of forced labour in 77 raids nationwide,” he said.

In addition, he said children also face the risk of becoming victims of online exploitation or sexual abuse.

“It is estimated that 100,000 children become victims of online exploitation or sexual abuse every year.

“Cases of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) increased from 68 cases in 2024 to 152 cases last year, with another 100 cases recorded up to mid-2026,” he said.

He said PDRM also conducted Op Cyber Guardian with seven other countries last April.

“A total of 69 individuals were arrested and 498,694 digital files were seized, including 204,934 files of child sexual abuse material.

“These arrests and seizures demonstrate what can be achieved through international cooperation,” he said.

According to him, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimates that scam syndicates “steal” more than US$1 trillion (RM4.04 trillion) from the public every year.

“In the United States (US), the FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report recorded losses of more than US$16 billion (RM70 billion) within a year.

“However, that figure only covers victims who came forward to file reports, and investment fraud is the single largest category,” he said.

He said the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that fraud operations in Southeast Asia alone generate tens of billions of dollars annually.

“Some estimates place the total global cost of cybercrime at more than US$10 trillion (RM40.42 trillion) per year – larger than the combined economies of Japan and Germany.

“As such, our laws must also keep pace with current developments. In July, Parliament passed the Cybercrime Bill,” he said.

He said the Bill is to replace the Computer Crimes Act 1997, which was enacted nearly 30 years ago.

This new law is technology-neutral. It targets crimes and not devices.

“As such, when criminals seek new ‘tools’, our laws remain robust.

“However, laws and enforcement alone are not enough. Cybercrime crosses borders. Our response must also cross borders,” he said.

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