Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
Kedah police have dismantled an international romance fraud operation based in the state, arresting seven foreign nationals accused of systematically deceiving Japanese victims through fake online dating profiles and financial schemes.
Malaysian authorities have dismantled an international romance scam operation targeting Japanese citizens. Seven Chinese nationals were arrested during a raid at an industrial park in Alor Star, Kedah.
Japan has committed to deepening regional cooperation on energy security and tackling online scams at a foreign ministers' meeting with ASEAN, China, and South Korea, underlining Tokyo's strategic engagement across Asia.
The FBI and Cambodia have committed to intensified collaboration against cybercriminal syndicates, as a new UN report reveals online scams are draining $88-114 billion annually from East and Southeast Asia, with sophisticated criminal networks operating as corporate franchises.
Malaysian authorities arrested 16 people in Kuantan in connection with an international cybercrime network defrauding American victims. The bust highlights growing concerns about Southeast Asia's role in transnational digital fraud operations.
Nine Chinese nationals appeared in a Balik Pulau magistrate's court today facing charges of criminal conspiracy linked to an alleged romantic fraud scheme, underlining the growing sophistication of transnational scam networks.
Malaysia has recorded 8,014 online fraud charges by May 2026, exceeding last year's total, prompting Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid to table a new Cyber Crime Bill 2026 to strengthen cybercrime enforcement and legal frameworks.
Police in Ipoh have arrested 12 Chinese nationals following raids on two call centres operating online romance scams. The operation specifically targeted victims in China with fraudulent love schemes.
Perak authorities have arrested 12 Chinese nationals in separate raids targeting suspected romance scam networks in Ipoh. The operations are believed to have defrauded multiple victims across Malaysia and the region.
India's securities regulator has warned of a sophisticated cyber fraud dubbed the 'boss scam', where fraudsters impersonate senior executives to trick employees into transferring company funds to criminal accounts.
Two British teenagers have been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for orchestrating a cyberattack on Transport for London that exposed seven million customers' personal information and caused £25 million in damages. The case represents the UK's largest criminal prosecution of cyber offenders.
Authorities in Ipoh have arrested 18 Chinese nationals following simultaneous police raids targeting an alleged online scam ring. The operation marks another crackdown on transnational fraud networks operating within Malaysia.
Cambodia has deported more than 16,000 foreign cyber-scam suspects during the first six months of 2026, part of an intensified crackdown on online fraud networks that have damaged the kingdom's international reputation.
Malaysia's police force has submitted an Interpol Red Notice application to locate activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, who is believed to be overseas and faces charges in Langkawi Magistrate's Court.
Four defendants, including two brothers, have pleaded not guilty to managing an online gambling operation allegedly conducted in April. The case was heard at Sungai Petani magistrate's court.
Singapore authorities are investigating 550 people, including minors as young as 16, suspected of involvement in over 1,800 fraud and unlicensed moneylending cases that have defrauded victims of more than $17 million combined.
Indonesia has deported 92 Chinese nationals accused of operating a cybercrime network from Batam. The mass expulsion, arranged with Beijing's cooperation, highlights Indonesia's emerging role as a regional hub for transnational online fraud.
A Malaysian national has been imprisoned for six years and eight months in Brunei for orchestrating cross-border ATM fraud involving misused debit cards, highlighting regional cybercrime coordination challenges.
Police in Medan, North Sumatra have arrested seven foreign nationals alongside 31 Indonesians suspected of running an international online dating scam network that targeted Japanese men through social media platforms.
Malaysia's government is conducting an in-depth study to develop stronger protections for cybercrime victims, including potential mechanisms for fund recovery and stricter penalties for offenders, drawing on international best practices.
Sophisticated romance scams impersonating Dubai's Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed are leveraging AI-generated deepfakes to deceive victims worldwide. Researchers have linked some operations to organised crime networks in Nigeria, with victims losing substantial sums through fabricated marriage proposals and fake investment schemes.
Sabah's Youth Development Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan has stressed the urgent need to boost digital literacy and public awareness to shield residents from escalating online threats including scams and harassment.
An online seller in Melaka has been charged with possessing pornography and distributing doctored intimate images of another woman via social media last month.
Singapore police have arrested 230 people, including a 16-year-old, in connection with over 713 scam cases involving S$9 million in losses. The suspects face charges ranging from cheating to money laundering.
Malaysia's government has formed a specialized inter-agency committee to combat escalating online scam crimes, bringing together law enforcement, regulators, and private sector players including banks and tech platforms.
Malaysia's Parliament has approved the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, introducing comprehensive penalties for deepfakes and digitally manipulated intimate images. The legislation includes procedural safeguards to protect citizens' fundamental rights and privacy.
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister says the Cybercrimes Bill 2026 is essential to fill legislative gaps and counter increasingly sophisticated digital attacks targeting citizens and businesses.
An Associated Press investigation has uncovered how American technology and companies—from satellite internet to AI tools—form the backbone of a globalised scam industry costing Americans $200 billion annually, raising urgent questions about corporate responsibility.
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Malaysian authorities have intensified their fight against cybercrime, arresting more than 45,000 individuals linked to online scams since 2023, while opening over 165,000 investigation files in what represents a major enforcement push.
MetMalaysia has denied issuing procurement offers through social media, warning the public of scammers impersonating department officials. The department has lodged a police report and reminded the public that all legitimate transactions occur through the official ePerolehan system.
Vietnamese police have dismantled a transnational online fraud ring operating from Cambodia, arresting 12 suspects linked to scams totalling RM39.2 million. The network impersonated officials and created fake government websites to defraud over 500 victims.
Indonesian police have arrested a Chinese national at Jakarta airport following an Interpol red notice. Zheng Rongjing is accused of directing an international online scam network from a major fraud hub in Cambodia.
Philippine authorities detained a 14-year-old female student for posting online threats against her school following a mass shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students. Police found no evidence of concrete plans or weapons access.
Myanmar authorities arrested four illegal Chinese nationals in Muse Township for orchestrating online fraud and gambling schemes. Security forces confiscated 34 mobile phones, eight computers, and other equipment during the raid.
Malaysia's online fraud losses nearly doubled to RM2.97 billion in 2025, up from RM1.57 billion in 2024. Investment scams remain the costliest threat, while recovery efforts show modest improvement.
Malaysia's proposed cybercrimes legislation would empower prosecutors to compel internet service providers to hand over traffic data and communication contents during criminal investigations, marking a significant expansion of law enforcement capabilities.
Malaysia has tabled the Cybercrime Bill 2026, signalling a hardline approach to digital crimes including identity theft, AI-generated fraudulent content, and non-consensual intimate image sharing.
India's government has intensified monitoring of Telegram after discovering the platform is being exploited for child sexual abuse material and financial scams. A Home Ministry report documented over 688,000 cyber fraud complaints since 2023.
A humanitarian organisation convened more than 100 defrauded investors in Kuala Lumpur, pressing authorities to accelerate their inquiries into 18 firms allegedly orchestrating large-scale investment cons.
Ho Chi Minh City police have dismantled criminal networks smuggling foreign nationals into Vietnam to operate sophisticated online fraud schemes, seizing hundreds of devices and charging 26 suspects in coordinated raids across the city.
Authorities in Ipoh have arrested three individuals, including two Chinese citizens, for allegedly providing communication devices to criminal syndicates running online scams across the region.
Police in Kelantan have detained nine foreign nationals suspected of orchestrating online fraud operations from Malaysian soil, marking another significant crackdown on transnational cybercrime networks.
Two British youths will stand trial for a major cyberattack on Transport for London that compromised data for 10 million passengers and caused £39 million in losses. The case highlights rising threats to critical infrastructure across Europe.
Vietnamese authorities have charged four individuals, including a Chinese national, for orchestrating a scheme to relocate an online scam operation from Cambodia to Vietnam. Police dismantled the plot before the criminal enterprise could establish operations.
ASEAN police forces are launching coordinated surveillance and intelligence-sharing initiatives to counter the rapidly expanding threat of transnational online scam operations spreading across Southeast Asia.
A magistrate's court in Bukit Mertajam convicted six foreign nationals—five Chinese citizens and one Taiwanese individual—for orchestrating romantic fraud schemes. Each received a RM9,000 fine after admitting guilt.
AirAsia has cautioned job applicants against a fake recruitment website claiming to represent the airline. The fraudulent portal mimics the official careers page and illegally charges processing fees.
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Malaysia's online fraud losses have nearly doubled to RM2.97 billion in 2025, according to the Inspector-General of Police, marking an 87% surge in reported cases and prompting renewed public awareness efforts.
Romance scams are rapidly becoming one of the world's most lucrative cybercrimes, with fraudsters using fake identities and emotional manipulation to steal millions from unsuspecting targets worldwide.