How to Avoid Phone Scams in Malaysia 2025: Stay Alert, Stay Safe
- Suri
- Oct 29, 2025
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever picked up a call that started with “Hello, this is from your bank…” — you’re not alone. Scam calls are now so common in Malaysia that almost everyone has a story to tell.
According to Whoscall’s 2024 analysis, 2.98 million scam calls were detected in Malaysia last year — an 83% increase from 2023. The Royal Malaysia Police (CCID) recorded RM 1.57 billion in financial losses from phone and online scams that same year.
So, learning how to avoid phone scams isn’t just about protecting your savings — it’s about protecting your peace of mind.
Why phone scams are exploding across Malaysia
Scammers today sound very local. They speak perfect Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese, sprinkle in Manglish, and use caller IDs that flash familiar names — “Maybank Customer Service”, “Pos Laju HQ”, “LHDN Hotline”.
The MCMC says billions of suspicious calls and messages have already been blocked, but scammers are adapting. Now, they use WhatsApp voice notes, AI-generated voices, and Telegram ‘bank support’ groups to reach new victims.
They prey on trust, panic, and confusion — three emotions Malaysians are naturally vulnerable to because we tend to be polite and helpful.
⚠️ Common scams Malaysians are facing now
Bank / police impersonation — “You are under investigation.”
Fake courier messages — “Your parcel is held by customs.”
‘Hi Mum’ WhatsApp scams — “My phone rosak, can you transfer RM 1,200?”
OTP requests — “We’re verifying your account, please read your 6-digit code.”
Silent or ‘testing’ calls — automated dials that hang up after one ring to confirm active numbers.
These may sound random, but there’s a method behind each — they’re built to make you act right now before thinking.
Real voices from Malaysians who’ve been there
To understand just how convincing these calls can be, we looked at top Reddit Malaysia threads where people shared their experiences.
“Got a call from ‘Bukit Aman’ saying my name is used for money laundering. Total amount 50 k, say I will go to jail.”— r/malaysia user, 2024
“Automated system to test out phone numbers that are active. They then aggregate the data and sell it to real scammers.”— r/malaysia user ‘AppleBS’
“I rarely give out my number, so it’s a surprise to get this many spam calls… all the numbers start with 016-620 XXXX.”— r/malaysia user ‘lazyblackie’
These stories show how scam networks spoof local prefixes and test real Malaysian numbers — proving the threat is both local and organised.
The facts behind the fear
Category | Figure (Malaysia 2024–2025) | Source |
Scam calls detected | 2.98 million | Whoscall (2024) |
Total financial losses | RM 1.57 billion | PDRM (CCID) |
Phishing share of fraud | ≈ 69 % | CyberSecurity Malaysia (Q2 2025) |
Scam SMS & calls blocked | Billions | MCMC (2024) |
That’s roughly 8,000 scam calls a day — and many still go unreported.
How to avoid phone scams
Let’s make this real and practical for everyday Malaysians 👇
1️⃣ Never share OTP or TAC
No Malaysian bank — not even Maybank, CIMB, RHB or BSN — will ever ask for OTP or TAC over a call or WhatsApp.
If anyone does, end the call immediately.
2️⃣ Don’t click suspicious links
If an SMS says “Klik pautan ini untuk semak bungkusan anda”, just delete it.
Pos Laju, DHL and Shopee only use their official apps or websites — never random links.
3️⃣ Secure your accounts
Use authenticator apps instead of SMS codes.
Ask your telco for a port-out PIN to prevent SIM-swap fraud.
4️⃣ Slow down before reacting
If a caller sounds urgent — pause. Real officers don’t rush or demand instant payment.
Even 10 seconds can help you spot red flags.
5️⃣ Spread the word
Talk about scams at home — with parents and kids.
If your parents still answer calls from “LHDN” or “Bank Negara”, show them this article.
Awareness saves — and in Malaysia, it starts at the family table.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
Act fast:
Call your bank’s hotline to freeze accounts.
Dial 997 — National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) (8 a.m.–8 p.m.).
File a police report at the nearest balai or via the CCID portal.
Report to MCMC through the Aduan SKMM portal (for scam calls / SMS).
Keep all evidence — screenshots, WhatsApp chats, receipts.
The faster you report, the higher your chance of stopping the transfer.
Why awareness matters for Malaysians
We Malaysians are known for being kind and helpful — we answer politely even when we don’t recognise the number.
That same kindness can make us easy targets — but it can also be our greatest defense if we use it to look out for each other.
When one person shares what happened, ten others learn.
When one family starts practising safe habits, others follow.
That’s how awareness spreads — from home to home.
Key Takeaway
Scam calls are rising in Malaysia — 2.98 million detected in 2024.
Learning how to avoid phone scams starts with awareness and informed habits.
Act fast — call your bank, dial 997, report to MCMC or CCID.
Most importantly — share the awareness so more Malaysians stay safe.
Source: Whoscall (2024), PDRM (CCID), MCMC, CyberSecurity Malaysia (2025)