Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman told the Dewan Rakyat that between January and August this year, 3,533 cases involving RM186 million were recorded, with some RM80 million from 1,632 “Macau scams”.

He was replying to Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (BN-Sabak Bernam) who queried on the number of online scams and the government’s efforts to fight them.

Azis said among the measures include creating awareness among the public through the corporate sector, schools and NGOs.

Azis said the police also run a Facebook page called “Cyber Crime Alert Royal Malaysia Police” to educate the public on online frauds.

“Macau scam” involves various methods including phone calls announcing “lucky draw winners”, ransom demands for purported kidnapping, and masquerading as police personnel and government officials.