MCMC blocks 101.66 million scam calls with telcos under spoofing gateway from Feb to Aug

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) teamed up with telecommunications companies and successfully blocked 101.66 million scam or spoof calls between February and August this year. This achievement was made possible through the implementation of the Inter Operator Spoofing Gateway initiative, which started in the beginning of the year.

The initiative aims to tackle Caller ID Spoofing tactics used by scammers from overseas, who display fake phone numbers to appear as if they are from local telco networks, deceiving local victims. The MCMC's Deputy Communications Minister, Teo Nie Ching, confirmed the effectiveness of this initiative, stating that the blocked calls prove its efficiency.

She responded to questions about the number of scam calls blocked, saying, "The total number of spoof calls blocked, amounting to 101.66 million, proves that this initiative is very effective." Teo also mentioned that the MCMC will hold an online meeting with Meta in the coming days to address public complaints concerning blocked WhatsApp accounts.

The Ministry is seeking a detailed briefing regarding the case, and they will wait for the results of the meeting before taking any further action. Earlier this year, the MCMC reported that they were investigating public complaints regarding hacked, blocked, or inaccessible WhatsApp accounts. The Commission also submitted the case to Meta for clarification and appropriate action.