In response to our recent post about Meta allowing scam ads on its platform, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil calls on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take faster and tougher action. Recently, there are increased reports about fake Facebook pages running scam ads offering free books related to investment and financial management. These scam pages impersonate popular brands and titles such as Kinokuniya, Popular, MPH and Sin Chew Daily, and they direct users to a WhatsApp chat to continue the conversation.
These scam tactics on social media are getting out of hand. @MCMC_RASMI we must take faster, tougher action. https://t.co/1wFKeBzxOI
— Fahmi Fadzil 🇲🇾 (@fahmi_fadzil) December 20, 2022
Tackling online scams is among Fahmi’s top priorities after taking up the top job at the Ministry of Communications and Digital. During a recent town hall, he shared that his own mother was a scam victim and lost RM75,000 from her Tabung Haji account.
He called upon scam victims to make a report with the National Scam Response Centre hotline at 997. He said the report must be made within 24 hours so that Bank Negara Malaysia can take necessary action to stop the outflow of funds. Fahmi also said scams are a potential security risk as the funds can be channelled into the black economy which can be used to buy drugs or weapons.
Facebook which is among Malaysia’s most popular social media platforms has been notorious for…
