Malaysians are increasingly falling victim to scams, with fraudsters masquerading as legitimate organisations, sending deceptive text messages that lure recipients into clicking suspicious links.
Photo via Malay Mail
In response, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) introduced a new directive, effective from 1st September, aimed at protecting the public from such threats. Under this new rule, SMS messages containing prohibited content, such as hyperlinks, requests for personal information, or callback numbers, will be blocked.
SMS services have become a tool for scammers to deceive the public. By impersonating reputable organisations, these fraudsters exploit SMS platforms to mislead people into sharing personal details or clicking on malicious links.
To combat this, MCMC is urging all Malaysians to be vigilant when receiving text messages containing questionable content. Messages with hyperlinks or requests for sensitive information should be treated with caution, as they may indicate fraudulent activity.
The commission further advises that recipients of such suspicious messages report them immediately. Individuals can file a complaint on the MCMC website by providing the sender’s phone number or short code, the recipient’s phone number, the location where the message was received, and a screenshot of the offending SMS.
MCMC also highlights the importance of staying alert to similar scams circulating on other platforms, such as Google RCS, Apple iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Users are encouraged to report any potentially fraudulent messages directly to the platform providers or to MCMC for further investigation.
In this ever-evolving digital landscape, staying cautious is key. The community is urged to remain informed and take proactive measures to avoid falling prey to these scams.
What are your thoughts on this growing issue?
