Bank Negara warns of scammers impersonating governor, top officials

Bank Negara Malaysia has cautioned Malaysian internet users to be wary of scammers employing deepfake technology to mimic the appearance of the central bank's top officials, including Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. In a recent statement, BNM warned that the central bank and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) do not endorse or endorse private investment schemes.

The central bank has taken steps to combat this issue by establishing a portal featuring examples of deepfake content generated by scammers. The portal is designed to help the public identify and avoid falling victim to such scams.

BNM also urges netizens to cross-check any investment-related information they receive with official sources before engaging in any financial transactions. For those seeking additional guidance, they can consult BNM's financial consumer alert list or the SC's investor alert list, which contain schemes or companies flagged by regulatory authorities.

Furthermore, individuals can confirm the legitimacy of a company offering financial or investment products by checking its authorization status through BNM's online portal, BNMLink, or the SC's investment checker portal.

In an effort to curb the dissemination of such fraudulent content, BNM has urged the public to report any suspicious material they encounter to the relevant social media platform, BNM itself, or the SC. This collaborative approach aims to minimize the spread of deepfake scams and protect the public from potential financial harm.