Fahmi: Govt mulling national anti-scam task force in BNM

Communications and Digital Ministry is having discussions with the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) to bring a cabinet memorandum on setting up the National Anti-Scam Task Force in Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to curb online scams.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said his ministry reverted to PMD because the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) which is under PMD, is the responsible agency on the matter.

He noted the move was among the steps taken to put a “full stop” to the rise in commercial fraud due to advancements in digital technology and combat scammers.

“As far as the government is concerned, we are looking into what other ways we can do, other things we can do to reduce the amount of online fraud,” he told reporters after his working visit to Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre today.

Fahmi also noted that the government blocked more than two billion suspicious calls and more than 500 million suspicious short messaging services from reaching local consumers, with the assistance of telecommunication service providers to online scams.

He said one of the root causes of online scams is data leakage, where the scammers figure out how to trick consumers with the data.

Yesterday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay reported that Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) statistics showed over 50 percent of cases recorded annually consisted of online fraud.

The minister also said that the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) and Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) will start a campaign next month to create more awareness among the public on online scams.

Meanwhile, Fahmi denied the September month mobile phone bill rebate under Media Practitioner Rahmah Rebate Incentives is only limited to the first 1,000 media practitioners in the country.

“It is open to all with a media accreditation card issued by the Information Department,” he said.

He also urged media practitioners who were given the wrong information to inform the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for quick action.

On Aug 29, Fahmi announced that about 10,000 media practitioners nationwide will be able to enjoy a one-month mobile phone bill rebate under the Media Practitioners Rahmah Rebate Incentives.

This was in appreciation of the unsung hero role played by media practitioners in explaining the Rahmah Initiative under the Malaysia Madani concept.

- Bernama

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