Scam Cases Surge Nearly 13% in First Quarter as Malaysia Faces Rising Digital Fraud Threat

Kuala Lumpur, 5 May 2026 – Malaysia recorded a nearly 13% increase in scam cases in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the growing scale of digital fraud as criminals continue to exploit online platforms, messaging apps and public trust.

The latest figures show that scam activity remains one of the country’s most serious consumer-protection and financial-crime challenges. Fraud syndicates are increasingly using social media, fake investment offers, job scams, impersonation tactics and online transaction traps to target victims across different age groups and income levels.