Overseas Job Scam Syndicate: Malaysians Warned by Deputy PM

1. What happened1/5

   Deputy PM names three countries where job scam traps operate

   Deputy PM Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof spoke at Pesta Ambeng 2.0 in Kuching on 14 November 2026 and told Malaysians to stop accepting overseas job offers that promise big pay without checking first.

   He said the syndicates do not operate in one country only. They run operations in Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia, luring Malaysians into online scam activities once they arrive.

   The warning was carried by Saluran 122, the government information channel on MYTV, Unifi TV and Astro.

2. The real numbers2/5

   The three countries and the one number to call

   997National Scam Response Centre hotline

   3 countriesnamed by Deputy PM as syndicate locations

   14 Nov 2026date of the Kuching warning

   Fadillah named Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia as locations where these syndicates are active. He said the government is working with authorities in those countries, including Pakistan, to identify victims and the people running the operations.

   If you or someone you know has already been scammed, the National Scam Response Centre number is 997. Call it first, then call your bank. The faster the report, the better the chance of freezing the money.

3. 

4. Why it matters3/5

   How the trap works: high salary first, scam work later

   The pattern Fadillah described is straightforward. A Malaysian receives a job offer with a salary that looks too good. They accept, travel, and find themselves forced into online scam operations targeting other Malaysians or foreigners.

   Fadillah's own words at the event: "Jangan mudah nak berjaya. Siasat dulu. Sebab ramai yang terpengaruh sebab gaji besar." Check the employer's background, the company's registration, and whether the offer is legitimate before you say yes.

   He also said community-level awareness programmes need to be strengthened so ordinary Malaysians understand the syndicate's modus operandi before they are on a plane.

6. What to do, step by step4/5

   Before you accept an overseas job, and after you realise it is a scam

   Two situations, two sets of actions.

   1. Before accepting: search the company name on the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) portal, check the employer's registration and physical address, and verify the job posting against official listings from the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) or the Labour Department.
   2. Before accepting: cross-check the job offer on reputable job portals and confirm the recruiter is a licensed employment agency registered with the Labour Department.
   3. If you are already a victim: call the National Scam Response Centre at 997 immediately. Do not wait for Monday. Do not wait for the bank's office hours.
   4. If you are already a victim: call your bank's fraud hotline right after 997. Ask them to freeze any transfers or card transactions linked to the scam.
   5. Report the scam details (contact number, website, recruitment channel used) to the National Scam Response Centre via the 997 hotline so the number can be flagged for other Malaysians.
7. 1. 01/01

      997National Scam Response Centre hotline

      The three countries and the one number to call

      National Scam Response Centre hotline

8. What to watch5/5

   Government cooperation with Pakistan is still in progress

   Fadillah said the government is working with the authorities of the countries involved, including Pakistan, to identify Malaysian victims and the individuals running the syndicate. No timeline or number of rescued victims was given at the event.

   He did not announce a new law, a new hotline or a specific deadline. The existing channels remain 997 for scam reports and your own bank for freezing money.

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia · Tvsarawak