SHAH ALAM - Scams in Malaysia are no longer limited to suspicious links or poorly written messages.
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed digital fraud into highly convincing deception capable of cloning voices, faking videos of national leaders and impersonating trusted contacts in real time.
With takedown figures surging and losses reaching billions of ringgit, authorities warn that the country is now facing one of its most sophisticated scam eras yet.
1. Scam Content Removal Hits Record Levels (2023–2026)
Between 1 Jan and 31 March, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) removed 43,618 scam-related online posts, including fake accounts and impersonation content.
According to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, the scale of enforcement has grown rapidly over recent years. Scam-related takedowns rose from 6,297 in 2023 to 63,652 in 2024, surging further to 98,503 in 2025.
She noted that between 2023 and 2024 alone, authorities handled 225,931 takedown requests, with 212,070 pieces of content removed. The trend, she said, reflects an increasingly serious digital threat driven by misinformation and AI-enabled manipulation.
2. Voice Cloning Scams That Mimic Family, Friends and Employers
One of the most alarming AI fraud tactics involves voice cloning through phone calls or messaging apps.
In May 2025, a woman in Selangor lost RM5,000 after receiving calls from a scammer who used AI to perfectly imitate her employer’s voice. Believing it was a legitimate, urgent request, she purchased Touch ‘n Go top-up PINs before realising the call was fraudulent.
Similar cases have been reported nationwide. In one incident in Kuala Terengganu, a travel agent lost RM49,800 after transferring money to a caller who sounded like a close friend.
In Kuala Lumpur and Penang, victims lost between RM3,000 and RM4,800 in comparable impersonation scams.
By 2024, police had already recorded at least 454 fraud cases involving deepfake technology, with total losses of RM2.72 million, according to the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID).
Authorities noted that scammers typically use AI-generated voices over WhatsApp or calls, often impersonating relatives to request urgent financial transfers or prepaid PINs.
3. Deepfake VIP Investment Scams Fuel Billions in Losses
Another growing threat involves AI-generated videos of public figures promoting fake investment schemes.
Scammers have used deepfake technology to mimic prominent individuals, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, business figures, and legal and corporate leaders such as Tan Sri Robert Kuok, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Even members of royalty have not been spared. On 10 July 2025, the Johor Royal Press Office issued a warning after a deepfake video of Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah, wife of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, was found circulating on Facebook.
The manipulated video falsely promoted an investment scheme. The palace stressed that impersonating royalty in this manner is a serious offence.
Earlier, on 5 July 2025, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong revealed that Malaysians lost a staggering RM2.11 billion to such scams in the previous year, involving 13,956 cases.
He warned that around 85% of victims were convinced to invest after watching AI-generated endorsement videos that appeared authentic.
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4. Regional Deepfake Misuse and Identity Manipulation
The misuse of AI-generated identities is not confined to Malaysia.
Teo highlighted cases involving the impersonation of regional leaders, including the unauthorized use of former Singapore president Halimah Yacob’s image in fraudulent financial schemes.
Authorities also reported AI-generated impersonations of high-profile figures, including the replication of voices and facial likenesses of national leaders and royalty to mislead victims into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information.
These cases underline how AI-driven scams have become a cross-border digital threat affecting multiple countries in the region.
5. Rising Enforcement Pressure and Digital Crackdown
The surge in AI-driven fraud has prompted stronger regulatory and enforcement responses.
Communications authorities and agencies such as the MCMC continue to scale up takedowns, while law enforcement agencies investigate hundreds of deepfake-related cases annually.
The growing complexity of scams has made detection more difficult, as fraudsters increasingly rely on automation, synthetic media and AI tools to bypass traditional verification methods.
6. Malaysia’s AI Governance Push to Tackle Emerging Threats
In response to rising risks, the government is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo stated yesterday that Malaysia is adopting a two-pronged strategy: using existing laws to prosecute offenders while developing the AI Governance Bill.
The proposed legislation aims to regulate AI development and usage across its lifecycle, addressing risks such as deepfakes, identity manipulation and harmful synthetic content.
Gobind stressed that the goal is to ensure AI systems are built safely from the outset while maintaining innovation, data security and public protection.
Recent developments show that AI scams in Malaysia are evolving faster than enforcement mechanisms. With billions in losses reported, thousands of cases recorded and rapid growth in synthetic media fraud, authorities are now pushing for a comprehensive legal framework to address both prevention and prosecution.