Reliable national and regional news coverage.
Japan has committed to deepening regional cooperation on energy security and combating online scams at a foreign ministers meeting in Manila involving ASEAN nations, China, and South Korea.
Cambodia has dismantled more than 200 online scam operations across Banteay Meanchey province over seven months, detaining tens of thousands of foreign suspects. However, the border town of Poipet remains incompletely cleared of fraudulent activities despite intensive enforcement efforts.
The FBI and Cambodia have committed to intensified collaboration against online fraud operations, as a UN report warns of escalating cybercrime losses across Southeast Asia reaching nearly $114 billion annually.
Thailand has fast-tracked judicial processes to suspend and remove illegal online content as the volume of unlawful URLs explodes from tens of thousands to millions, targeting gambling, fraud and scams.
Police in Kuantan have dismantled a sophisticated call centre fraud operation targeting American victims, arresting 16 suspects including 14 foreigners in a significant cross-border cybercrime crackdown.
Malaysian police have arrested 16 suspects, including eight women, in Kuantan as part of a crackdown on an international online scam network targeting American citizens. The operation represents a significant breakthrough in combating cybercrime.
Malaysia has recorded 8,014 online fraud charges by May 2024, already exceeding the entire 2023 total. Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid cited the escalating threat when tabling the new Cyber Crime Bill 2026 in Parliament.
India's securities regulator has alerted companies to a rising cyber fraud scheme where criminals impersonate CEOs and senior executives to manipulate employees into transferring company funds to fraudulent accounts.
Police in Ipoh have arrested a dozen Chinese nationals connected to two romance scam call centres that preyed on victims across China. The operation represents ongoing efforts to dismantle sophisticated fraud networks using Malaysia as a base.
Perak police have arrested 18 Chinese nationals following coordinated raids in Ipoh in connection with an alleged online scam operation. The busts represent a significant crackdown on transnational fraud affecting Malaysian communities.
Cambodia has deported more than 16,000 foreign suspected online scammers in the first half of 2026, part of a major enforcement drive against cybercrime that has seen over 45,000 foreigners expelled from the kingdom.
Indonesia deported 92 Chinese nationals and imposed lifetime entry bans following their arrest for allegedly operating a scam network. The repatriation reflects intensifying efforts to combat transnational cyber crime syndicates.
Singapore's police joined a coordinated Interpol operation targeting social engineering scams across 97 countries, resulting in nearly 5,900 arrests and US$293 million in seized assets between January and April.
A Malaysian national was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment in Brunei for collecting and distributing stolen debit cards used in unauthorised ATM withdrawals, causing losses of BND8,480.
Indonesian authorities have arrested seven foreign nationals and 31 Indonesians in Medan for operating an international online dating scam network. The syndicate used fake profiles on social media platforms to target Japanese men before extracting money through deception.
Malaysian authorities have seized 718.43kg of vapes containing prohibited substances including synthetic drugs and THC since 2023, resulting in 585 arrests across 400 cases. Seizures have accelerated significantly in 2025.
Malaysia's authorities have dismantled a significant illegal cryptocurrency mining operation, seizing more than 75,000 machines across over 3,000 raids nationwide between 2022 and May 2024, resulting in 629 arrests.
Malaysia's government is undertaking an in-depth study to develop stronger protections for cybercrime victims, examining fund recovery schemes and enhanced penalties for offenders based on international best practices.
Malaysia's incoming Cybercrimes Bill 2026 is essential to bridge existing legal vulnerabilities as cybercriminals deploy increasingly sophisticated techniques, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has stated.
An AP and Frontline investigation reveals American technology companies are enabling a massive global scam industry worth nearly US$200 billion annually, with minimal legal consequences and voluntary compliance measures.
Malaysia's government has launched a multi-agency task force to combat online scams, bringing together ministries, financial institutions, telecommunications companies and social media platforms for the first time.
Malaysia's parliament has passed the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, introducing penalties for deepfakes and digitally manipulated intimate images. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed the legislation includes safeguards to protect citizens' fundamental rights and privacy.
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Malaysian authorities have arrested more than 45,000 suspects in a sustained crackdown on online scams since 2023, with police investigating over 165,000 cases as cybercriminals evolve their tactics.
Indonesia's Interpol bureau has arrested a Chinese national suspected of masterminding international online scams from Cambodia. Zheng Rongjing was detained at Jakarta airport following a request from Chinese authorities.
Security forces in Myanmar's Shan State have arrested four Chinese nationals found operating an online scam and gambling enterprise from a house in Muse Township, with authorities seizing 34 mobile phones and multiple computers.
A 37-year-old unemployed man has been ordered by Sessions Court in Sepang to undergo psychiatric assessment following his guilty plea to insulting members of the Terengganu royal family through online postings.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has lodged a police report after an AI-generated video containing false allegations against her circulated widely. The PKR Wanita chief condemned the video as malicious and called for firm action against defamation targeting women politicians.
Malaysia's Cybercrimes Bill 2026 has been tabled for first reading in parliament, seeking to repeal the 1997 Computer Crimes Act and establish a more robust legal framework against digital offences and online fraud.
Perak police have arrested three suspects, including two Chinese citizens, on suspicion of supplying communication equipment to criminal networks operating online scams across the region.
Authorities in Kelantan have apprehended nine foreign nationals of mixed backgrounds on suspicion of orchestrating online scams from the Pengkalan Kubor area. The operation forms part of intensifying efforts to combat transnational cybercrime.
Tokyo police have arrested Hu Shi, a senior executive of the Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group, alongside two accomplices for allegedly filing fraudulent change-of-address notifications. The syndicate is sanctioned by the US and Britain as one of Asia's largest criminal networks.
Malaysia's Cybercrime Bill 2026 has been tabled for first reading, replacing the outdated 1997 Computer Crimes Act. The legislation addresses modern threats including ransomware, identity theft, and AI-driven attacks while establishing penalties up to RM3 million.
Two British defendants will stand trial at Woolwich Crown Court over a major 2024 cyberattack on Transport for London. The breach exposed 10 million passenger records and caused £39 million in losses, with investigators linking the attack to the Scattered Spider criminal collective.
Vietnamese police have charged four people, including a Chinese national, for attempting to relocate an online scam operation from Cambodia to Vietnam. The scheme was dismantled before becoming operational.
ASEAN police forces are intensifying cross-border cooperation and developing specialized training to combat rapidly evolving transnational scam syndicates relocating to new havens across Southeast Asia and beyond.
A Bukit Mertajam court has handed down penalties totalling RM54,000 against five Chinese and one Taiwanese national convicted of orchestrating an online romance fraud ring that preyed on fellow nationals seeking relationships.
Malaysia's online scam losses surged to RM2.97 billion in 2025, nearly doubling from RM1.57 billion in 2024. The Inspector-General of Police warns of escalating cybercrime tactics as authorities launch public awareness campaigns.
Romance scams are among the fastest-growing online fraud schemes globally, with losses reaching billions annually. Artificial intelligence is making it easier for scammers to create convincing fake identities and deceive victims.