THE nation is facing a sharp escalation in online scam activity, with more than 43,000 pieces of fraudulent content removed in just the first three months of this year, underscoring growing concern over the misuse of artificial intelligence and digital platforms.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had taken down 43,618 scam-related items, including fake accounts and impersonation materials, between Jan 1 and March 31.
She said the trend had worsened significantly in recent years, with 6,297 scam-related posts removed in 2023, rising sharply to 63,652 in 2024 and 98,503 in 2025.
“These are the statistics. Frankly speaking, it is not 100 per cent. From 2023 to 2024, the total number of takedown requests submitted to platforms was 225,931, while 212,070 pieces of content were removed.
“What concerns us is that we are seeing a sharply rising trend. It is therefore very important for all of us to work together with the media to continue educating the public on digital literacy,” she said in her speech at the opening of the 21st Confederation of Asean Journalists in Kuala Lumur today.
Teo warned that scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, automation and deepfake technology to create more convincing and harder-to-detect schemes.
“The next challenge that deeply concerns me is the growing spread of fake news. AI is accelerating the spread of misinformation through highly convincing deepfakes, while scammers continue to exploit AI and automation to deceive the public.
“This is no longer a local concern, but a growing global challenge affecting countries across regions.”
She said authorities have already identified cases where voices and facial identities were digitally manipulated to deceive victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive personal information.
Teo added that AI-generated deepfakes have also been used to impersonate prominent figures, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“There have also been reports involving the impersonation of the Royal Institution, including fake social media accounts using AI to replicate the voice of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in misleading videos promoting alleged financial assistance schemes.”
She noted that similar tactics have emerged across the region, including the misuse of the image of former Singapore president Halimah Yacob in fraudulent financial schemes.
Despite the growing threat, Teo said Malaysia remains confident that stronger regional cooperation and collective responsibility can curb the spread of online scams and misinformation.
She added that the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Journalism and Ethical Innovation, signed today, reinforces a shared commitment to enhancing regional collaboration, including setting clearer standards on the use of artificial intelligence in media content. - April 27, 2026
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