Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
Myanmar authorities have arrested four undocumented Chinese nationals in Muse Township for operating online scams and illegal gambling networks. Security forces seized computers, mobile phones and other equipment during the raid.
Online fraud losses in Malaysia surged to RM2.97 billion in 2025, nearly double the previous year's RM1.57 billion, with investment scams accounting for the largest share. The Home Ministry reports recovery efforts are improving.
Parliament has begun considering the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, which will replace Malaysia's 29-year-old cybercrime legislation with modern provisions targeting online fraud, hacking, and computer system offences.
A Bukit Mertajam court has sentenced six foreign nationals to monetary penalties for operating an online romance scam. The group, comprising five Chinese citizens and one Taiwanese man, targeted fellow Asian expatriates through deceptive courtship schemes.
Romance scams are among the world's fastest-growing online frauds, with victims losing billions annually. Criminals now use AI to create convincing fake profiles, making it harder for people to spot deception.
Thailand's consumer watchdog has sued Meta, accusing Facebook of allowing scams to flourish while neglecting victim compensation. The council received over 6,164 complaints linked to online fraud from 2024 to March 2026.
A George Town entrepreneur who was defrauded of nearly RM400,000 has publicly warned others about increasingly complex online loan scam operations.
Sabah Education Minister Datuk James Ratib has filed a police report after his personal Facebook account was compromised. He cautioned the public against fraudsters using his name and identity to solicit sensitive information.
Phnom Penh police conducted coordinated raids on three suspected online scam operations on May 22, arresting 26 Chinese nationals. The busts reflect Prime Minister Hun Manet's intensifying push to dismantle cyber fraud networks across the country.
An online seller from Johor Baru has been charged with cheating after allegedly defrauding a buyer of RM41,000 for a luxury Hermes handbag that did not exist. The accused entered a not guilty plea at the Magistrate's Court.