JALINAN Sahabat Nusantara (Jasanusa), a Malaysian non-governmental organisation, has urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to take urgent action in alerting the public to the latest methods used by phone scammers, which often make it difficult to identify and protect victims.
Samsudin Awang, a spokesperson for Jasanusa, said delays in public education allow cybercriminals to continually develop new tactics, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to keep pace.
“Ultimately, we will no longer be able to match the speed of their innovations if we delay action. The latest cybercriminal tactics, which employ psychological approaches to deceive the public via phone calls, must be curtailed before they spread further,” Sinar Harian cited him saying in a recent statement.
He explained that current scam narratives typically involve intimidating victims with allegations of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering, acting as an account mule, fraudulent loans, or the shipment of prohibited items via courier.
Initially, scammers often approach victims in a calm and formal manner, impersonating government enforcement officers from the police, customs, or tax authorities.
“After several interactions over the phone, they begin persuading victims to transfer money from personal accounts to third-party accounts, supposedly for temporary protection or to prevent funds from being frozen by authorities,” Samsudin explained.
In reality, funds are siphoned gradually through online transactions, leaving victims unaware until losses reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of ringgit.
Throughout the communication, scammers may involve multiple individuals posing as senior officers to pressure victims into transferring money repeatedly, claiming that such measures prevent banking restrictions on large transactions.
Police have advised the public to exercise caution when receiving calls from unknown numbers, particularly those that hang up abruptly or remain silent, as such methods may be exploited in fraudulent schemes.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said there have been no reported cases of “silent calls” being recorded and misused through artificial intelligence to defraud family members or acquaintances.
“Thus far, no victims have reported receiving silent calls where their voices were recorded and subsequently used via AI applications to commit fraud,” he said.
Despite the absence of reported cases, Rusdi stressed that the public should remain vigilant, as scammers could potentially exploit this technique in the future.
He advised people not to disclose personal information during suspicious calls and to verify claims directly with official authorities or financial institutions.
Inspector Tai Yong Keong of the Cheras District Police Commercial Crime Investigation Unit noted that silent calls are often used as a method to screen potential victims.
“These syndicates can record a victim’s voice for a few seconds, which can later be misused in commercial fraud,” he said. “With AI technology, they are capable of modifying or mimicking the voice before contacting the victim’s family or associates for fraudulent purposes.”
The warning from Jasanusa and the police highlights the growing sophistication of phone scams in Malaysia and underscores the need for rapid public education to prevent significant financial losses. - January 19, 2026
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