Telcos terminate 187,000 lines for suspicious activity as govt intensifies crackdown on spoofed calls.
PETALING JAYA: Telecommunications service providers in Malaysia have intercepted 2.3 billion suspected scam-related phone calls and 2.5 billion unsolicited text messages since the beginning of 2022 through November 30 this year, according to the Communications Ministry.
During the same timeframe, authorities terminated services for 186,986 mobile and fixed telephone lines that were identified as sources of suspicious SMS activity, the ministry disclosed.
These figures were provided in a written response to the Dewan Negara dated December 18, addressing a query from Senator Datuk Ahmad Datuk Seri Hj. Ibrahim regarding governmental measures against scam operations utilizing international calls and falsified local telephone numbers.
The ministry explained that spoof calling is a deceptive practice where fraudsters mask their true identity by manipulating caller information to display trusted or recognizable numbers.
Scammers then employ various psychological tactics to trick victims into revealing personal or confidential information.
Such fraudulent calls typically originate from outside Malaysia and enter through international telecommunications gateways.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been collaborating intensively with telecommunications operators to deploy network-level blocking mechanisms and control systems designed to intercept these calls before they reach Malaysian users.
To strengthen defenses against online fraud, including schemes that exploit artificial intelligence technology, the government launched the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
This integrated response platform operates under police leadership and coordinates efforts across multiple government agencies, including MCMC.
The NSRC serves as a rapid response hub for addressing online scam incidents through coordinated action, while simultaneously conducting public awareness campaigns and consumer education programs nationwide.
