Malaysia’s losses from online fraud have surged sharply over the past three years, rising from RM1.57 billion in 2024 to RM2.97 billion in 2025 and reaching RM830 million in the first five months of 2026, according to the Home Ministry.
In a written parliamentary reply, the ministry said non-existent investment scams remained the largest contributor to losses, amounting to RM848.62 million in 2024 before climbing to RM1.46 billion in 2025 and RM361.63 million as of May 2026.
Telecommunications-related scams were the second biggest category, with losses of RM497.12 million in 2024, RM802.47 million in 2025 and RM235.63 million in the early part of 2026. Love scams, while smaller in scale, also continued to rise steadily, recording RM45.87 million in 2024, RM47.44 million in 2025 and RM17.76 million so far this year.
By state, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest losses, with Selangor increasing from RM446.16 million in 2024 to RM986.79 million in 2025. Kuala Lumpur saw losses rise from RM293.30 million to RM782.86 million over the same period.
Other states including Johor, Penang and Perak also recorded notable year-on-year increases, while Sabah and Sarawak each exceeded RM110 million in losses in 2025, reflecting a broader nationwide upward trend in online fraud cases.
The Home Ministry said the government continues to strengthen enforcement through the National Scam Response Centre, which operates 24 hours a day to freeze bank accounts and restrict transactions linked to suspected fraud.
Since its establishment in 2022, a total of RM32.49 million in scam-related funds has been seized, with RM10.9 million returned to victims. Between 2022 and 2025, about 29% of recovered funds were returned, while from January to May 2026, the recovery rate improved to 49%, signalling stronger effectiveness of enforcement efforts.
