PEOPLE receiving “silent calls” from unfamiliar numbers should exercise caution, as these may be the work of scammers, CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) has warned.
Answering such calls could mark a number as “active,” making it a target for future scams, explained CSM Chief Executive Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab.
“(It is) to collect voice metadata. Even if silent, calls are sometimes recorded to identify background sounds or the user’s voice. If the victim answers, the number is added to a target list and subsequently sold or used for further fraud,” he said.
A “silent call” is one in which the line is answered but there is no response from the caller, and the connection is usually terminated after a short period. Victims who respond may receive follow-up communications, including text messages urging action.
“There have been cases where, after receiving a silent call, the victim receives an SMS stating that their bank account will be suspended and is asked to call a listed number,” Amirudin said.
He added that victims may also receive WhatsApp messages containing fake links or job offers, and repeated silent calls may be followed by actual calls from numbers posing as banks, courier companies, the Inland Revenue Board, or government agencies.
“Sometimes the caller’s number is spoofed to appear as a local number,” he said.
Distinguishing genuine from scam calls can be done by observing patterns, Amirudin advised. Repeated silent calls from different numbers or unusual international numbers are suspicious. Legitimate accidental calls usually have background noise and are terminated quickly.
“If a number repeatedly makes silent calls or comes from a strange or excessively long international number, that is a warning sign. Scammers also do not engage in normal interaction, leaving the call open but silent,” he said.
The safest response to a silent call is to terminate it immediately to prevent scammers or robocalls from recognising the number as active.
“Many may hesitate, worried it could be an urgent call from a loved one. However, if the call is important, the caller will attempt to reach you again via SMS, WhatsApp, or voicemail,” Amirudin said.
He urged people not to leave lines open or share personal information. “As a precaution, report suspicious numbers to authorities,” he advised. Smartphone functions and apps such as Truecaller or Whoscall can also help identify spam numbers.
Individuals are encouraged to limit sharing personal numbers publicly, educate family members about scams, use separate numbers for personal and general purposes, monitor financial and digital accounts regularly, and verify any suspicious calls by contacting organisations directly using official numbers. - November 6, 2025
