Three in four Malaysians fall victim to scams despite most saying they can easily spot one: Survey

PETALING JAYA – Nearly three in four Malaysians fell victim to scams in the past year despite most saying they could easily spot one, a new survey has found, highlighting a growing “overconfidence gap” in digital safety.

The 2025 State of Scams in Malaysia report by Gogolook and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance stated that 85 per cent of respondents encountered a scam attempt and 73 per cent admitted being deceived.

According to the report, the average loss among victims was RM4,844.70 (S$1,477) each.

This comes even as 75 per cent of adults expressed confidence in identifying scams, with 14 per cent insisting they could “always” detect one.

The survey said that education and age offered little protection, with 82 per cent of victims being highly educated and 78 per cent being millennials.

“Scams have become so embedded into our digital landscape that even digitally savvy, educated and confident users are falling for them,” said Gogolook’s chief executive Manwoo Joo.

He warned that many Malaysians rely on weak checks, such as spotting grammar errors or looking up companies on social media.

The survey revealed that investment scams topped the list, while phone calls remained the main channel.

However, the report said messaging apps are fast catching up, accounting for 56 per cent of scam attempts, with WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook the most exploited.

The report also revealed that 21 per cent of parents said their children, aged between seven and 17, had been scammed at least once.

“About reporting splits, victims were equally likely to report scams to social platforms and authorities (44 per cent each), mainly the police (27 per cent) and social media companies (25 per cent).

“On barriers to reporting, 23 per cent of victims stayed silent, citing uncertainty over where to report (35 per cent) and doubts it would make a difference (34 per cent),” the report read.

The study also found that Malaysians placed the greatest responsibility on government agencies but rated consumer protection bodies highest for scam education, reporting ease and victim support.

The survey, conducted from Feb 26 to March 14 among 1,000 adults nationwide, found that stronger tools and institutional action were needed.

Gogolook’s Whoscall app, approved by the police, uses artificial intelligence to flag suspicious calls, links and even screenshots of scam attempts. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

MalaysiaInternet crimes and scamsScams