The Good, The Bad & The Online: Cybersecurity in Malaysia: Stop Making Scammers Rich https://www.farizalkamal.com/2026/03/cybersecurity-in-malaysia-stop-making.html
The RM2.77 Billion Hobby: Why Malaysians Keep Funding Scammers
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.” — Mark Zuckerberg
(Except apparently Malaysians interpreted this as “take risks by clicking every suspicious link on WhatsApp.”)
Let’s start with a fun national statistic. In 2025 alone, Malaysians managed to donate approximately RM2.77 billion to online scammers. Not charity. Not zakat. Not taxes. Just pure, enthusiastic digital stupidity transferred via bank apps.
And 2026 is already warming up nicely.
Every day someone receives a message like:
“Your parcel stuck at customs. Click here.”
“Government bantuan available.”
“Hi dear, I’m an engineer working on an oil rig but I love you.”
And somehow, against all biological survival instincts, people still click.
Congratulations. You’ve just sponsored another scam syndicate’s company retreat in Phuket.
But here’s the good news: not getting scammed is actually very easy. It just requires basic skepticism and about five minutes of effort.
Let’s walk through the survival guide.
1. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
This is the cybersecurity equivalent of locking your front door.
Apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator generate login codes that scammers cannot easily steal.
Banking apps like Maybank2u
E-wallets like Touch ’n Go eWallet or Boost
Cybersecurity experts say MFA blocks about 99% of account takeover attempts.
Which means if you don’t enable it, you’re basically leaving your digital house unlocked with a sign that says:
“Please steal my savings.”
2. Stop Using Terrible Passwords
If your password looks like this:
Then congratulations. You have the cybersecurity strength of a wet tissue.
Use a password manager like Bitwarden and generate long random passwords.
Yes, it’s slightly inconvenient.
You know what’s more inconvenient?
Explaining to your spouse that you just transferred RM40,000 to a fake investment guru on Telegram.
3. Update Your Phone. Yes, Now.
Many scams succeed because people are still running ancient software.
Those annoying update notifications you keep ignoring?
They often fix security holes hackers already know about.
So enable auto-updates on:
Ignoring updates is like refusing to fix a broken lock because “later lah.”
Meanwhile hackers are already inside your house making Milo.
4. Assume Every Message Is a Scam
If you receive a random message claiming urgency, there’s a 99% chance it’s fake.
Classic scam phrases include:
Instead, contact the company directly.
Not the phone number inside the message.
Scammers now use AI-generated messages in perfect Bahasa Malaysia, which means grammar is no longer a reliable stupidity detector.
5. Verify Before Sending Money
Malaysia is also seeing a huge rise in scams involving fake identities and impersonation.
Tools like MyDigital ID are designed to verify transactions and reduce fraud.
Use them whenever possible.
Because if someone you “met online yesterday” suddenly needs emergency money…
You’re not helping a soulmate.
You’re funding organized crime.
The Scams Malaysians Keep Falling For
Just a quick sampling of our national favorites:
January 2026 alone saw millions lost to fake online relationships. Apparently the quickest way to romance Malaysians is to pretend to be an overseas engineer.
Over 1,300 cases in a single month.
Pro tip: if a PS5 costs RM800 on Facebook Marketplace, the only thing arriving is regret.
Deepfake Family Emergencies
AI can now clone voices and video.
If “your cousin” suddenly calls asking for money…
Hang up and call them back directly.
What To Do If You Get Hit
If you realise you’ve been scammed, act immediately.
Contact the National Scam Response Centre via 997.
Fast reporting has already helped authorities freeze billions of ringgit in scam funds.
Waiting a few hours dramatically lowers the chances of recovery.
Cybersecurity doesn’t require expensive software, government programs, or a degree in hacking.
It requires three things:
The ability to not click stupid links
Sadly, scammers are betting that Malaysians lack all three.
And judging by RM2.77 billion in losses…