KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Xinhua): Losses from online scams in Malaysia surged to 2.97 billion ringgit (730 million U.S. dollars) in 2025, compared to 1.57 billion ringgit in 2024, the country's Inspector-General of Police, Mohd Khalid Ismail, said on Monday.

Non-existent investment scams recorded the highest losses, amounting to 1.47 billion ringgit, Mohd Khalid told a press briefing.

He also said that a total of 66,204 online fraud cases were recorded in 2025, representing an 87 percent increase from the 35,368 cases recorded in 2024.

"Phone scams remain the main threat, with 28,388 cases reported in 2025," he said, adding that fraud syndicates are constantly refining their tactics and modus operandi by exploiting technological advances and the sophistication of modern communication platforms.

"As such, efforts in prevention, education and the cultivation of digital security awareness are now an urgent priority and need to be strengthened continuously," he said.

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