KUALA LUMPUR - MCA Public Services and Complaints Department and the Council of Datuk-Datuk Malaysia (MDDM) have raised the alarm over a new breed of scammers utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to generate fake royal titles and photographs with national leaders to deceive the public into fraudulent investment schemes.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department Head Datuk Seri Michael Chong Ten Soo highlighted a recent case involving a woman who goes by the name Yang Xiao Ying or ‘Datuk Xenia’, who heavily utilised AI-generated images to pose as a legitimate titleholder on social media.
Chong revealed that the scammer manipulated images to show herself wearing an official uniform of the Investiture Ceremony of the Melaka State Awards and Medals and shaking hands with the Prime Minister in Parliament.
"To further project an illusion of high-level government backing, the scammer also distributed fake photographs of herself alongside both the current and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
"The purpose of these AI-generated images is to cheat and convince the public. Posing as a 'Charity Ambassador' for the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, she solicited heavy investments in forex and gold,” he told a press conference here today.
Also present at the press conference were MDDM Deputy Chair of Legal Affairs Datuk Joy Appukuttan and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Melaka Chairman Edison Chan.
Chong explained that the scammers’ modus operandi involved creating a facade of massive returns with one fabricated profit allegedly reaching RM3.2 billion before pressuring victims to donate their money back into a fake charity.
Meanwhile, Joy warned that the misuse of unrecognised or fabricated titles to project false authority is a serious criminal offence.
He noted that MDDM has received at least seven reports since last year regarding individuals using fraudulent Datuk titles, often falsely claiming they were bestowed by foreign royalties or unrecognised states.
"Under the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017 (Act 787), the use of unrecognised awards, soliciting foreign unrecognised awards, and using titles not officially conferred by the King or State Rulers creates an offence," he said.
Joy stressed that those found guilty under Act 787 could face up to three years in prison, or fines ranging between RM10,000 and a maximum of RM250,000.
He added that MDDM has actively engaged with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), and parliamentary select committees to advocate for stricter enforcement and institutional reforms.
The council issued a strict warning to individuals using unverified titles on business cards and social media to remove them immediately.
The public is strongly advised to rigorously verify the legitimacy of any Datuk title through the official government portal at www.istiadat.gov.my or the MDDM directory at www.mddm.org.my. - BERNAMA