The recent “State of Scams in Malaysia 2025” report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa) reveals an alarming trend: one in five Malaysian children aged 7 to 17 have fallen victim to scams.
This marks a troubling shift in scam tactics, with criminals now preying on the nation’s youngest digital users besides senior citizens often seen as vulnerable and easy prey.
This disturbing development necessitates immediate and coordinated action to safeguard minors online. Children must no longer be the silent victims in the digital battleground.
Wanita MCA therefore urges policy makers, regulatory and enforcement bodies, adults in positions of care to expedite the following key measures:
- Mandatory Digital Safety Education in Schools: Introduce age-appropriate cyber safety modules within the national curriculum to teach students how to recognise and report scams.
- Enhanced Parental Controls and Monitoring Tools: Encourage tech companies and telcos to provide robust, accessible parental control tools that flag suspicious activity and limit exposure to high-risk platforms.
- National Awareness Campaign for Families: Launch a dedicated awareness programme targeting parents and guardians, empowering families with practical tools to protect children from online threats.
- Stricter Age Verification on Digital Platforms: Enforce stronger age verification protocols on platforms frequented by minors, and hold companies accountable for failing to act on scam-related activity.
- Child-Friendly Reporting Mechanisms: Equip the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and related agencies with simplified, child-friendly channels to report suspected scams involving minors.
- Multi-Sector Collaboration for Research and Enforcement: Foster collaboration between law enforcement, tech providers, educators, and civil society to monitor emerging scam tactics and respond swiftly with effective interventions.
The protection of our children in the digital space must become a national priority. As technology evolves, so must our commitment to creating a safe online environment.
Preventing child-targeted scams is not just about security. Instead, it is about safeguarding trust, well-being, and the future of our society.
By working together and acting decisively, the relevant ministries, educational institutions, digital platforms, and enforcement agencies should be able to slow down this dangerous trend.
Tee Hooi Ling is Wanita MCA deputy chairperson.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Ova.
