ONLY a fraction of the billions of ringgit lost to online scammers has been recovered for victims since Malaysia established the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), despite signs that the agency is becoming more effective at freezing illicit funds.
In a written parliamentary reply dated June 23, the Home Ministry said the NSRC has seized RM32.49 million linked to scam syndicates since it began operations in 2022.
"Out of this, a total of RM10.9mil has been paid back to victims through the courts," the ministry said.
The figures were disclosed in response to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), who sought details on scam trends, recovery rates and government measures to trace and return stolen funds.
The ministry revealed that online scam losses have continued to escalate, with Malaysians losing RM1.57 billion in 2024, followed by RM2.97 billion in 2025. A further RM830 million has already been lost during the first five months of this year.
Fraudulent investment schemes remained the most financially damaging form of cybercrime, with losses surging from RM848.62 million in 2024 to RM1.46 billion last year. Victims have already lost RM361.63 million to fake investment scams in the first five months of this year.
Telecommunications-related fraud also recorded a sharp increase, with losses rising from RM497.12 million in 2024 to RM802.47 million in 2025.
Love scams continued to account for the smallest share of reported losses, remaining relatively stable at between RM45 million and RM47 million annually.
Geographically, Selangor remained the state hardest hit by scammers for the third consecutive year, with losses almost doubling from RM446.16 million in 2024 to RM986.79 million in 2025.
Kuala Lumpur also recorded a substantial increase, with losses climbing from RM293.30 million to RM782.86 million over the same period.
Johor, Penang and Perak likewise experienced significant year-on-year increases, while combined scam losses in Sabah and Sarawak exceeded RM110 million last year.
Perlis recorded the lowest losses nationwide, with RM11.12 million lost to scammers in 2025.
Despite the relatively modest overall recovery, the ministry said the proportion of seized funds returned to victims has improved steadily.
Of the RM25.2 million seized between 2022 and 2025, approximately RM7.3 million, or 29 per cent, was successfully returned to victims.
During the first five months of this year alone, authorities seized RM7.25 million, of which RM3.57 million, or 49 per cent, has already been reimbursed.
The ministry said the improving recovery rate demonstrates that the NSRC is becoming more effective and increasingly trusted by the public.
It added that the NSRC functions as a one-stop centre for scam reporting and serves as the country's first line of defence against online fraud by working closely with the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia and financial institutions to freeze bank accounts and block suspicious transactions before stolen funds can be dissipated. - June 24, 2026
