Malaysia is witnessing a sharp increase in online fraud, with authorities recording 8,014 online fraud-related cases as of May 2026, up from 6,140 cases reported in 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the rise reflects not only a growing number of fraud cases but also higher financial losses suffered by victims.
“There is an urgent need to enact a comprehensive law to deal with cyber crime more effectively, in line with the increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber security threat landscape,” he said during the 2nd reading of the Cybercrime Bill 2026 in the Dewan Negara.
The proposed legislation, which contains 8 parts and 61 clauses, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 1. The Bill aims to repeal the Computer Crimes Act 1997 and strengthen the country’s ability to address increasingly complex and evolving cybercrime.
Zahid also revealed that 10,245 people had been arrested as of May 2026 for offences linked to telecommunications fraud, e-commerce scams, investment scams and fake loan schemes.
He added that arrests related to online fraud have continued to rise over the years, increasing from 16,244 in 2022 to 23,753 in 2025, highlighting the authorities’ ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime.
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