Telegram Fraud In Malaysia Reaches IDR 145.9 Billion Losses

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

Citizen losses due to various fraudulent activities via Telegram from January to May 2023 reached 45 million Ringgit Malaysia or around Rp. 145.9 billion (RM1 exchange rate equivalent to Rp. 3,242), said Malaysian Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

"The government will not remain silent and allow criminals to hide behind false identities," Fahmi said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Monday, June 19.

"God willing, today's meeting will be a good start in cross-agency cooperation to ensure Telegram is safer to use," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Fahmi held a meeting with Telegram representatives at the Malaysian Royal Police Headquarters (PDRM) in Bukit Aman on Monday afternoon with the Head of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) Salim Fateh Din, Inspector General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Director of the Department of Criminal Investigation Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, and high-ranking PDRM officials.

In the one-hour meeting, according to Fahmi, he insisted that too many criminal cases such as fraudulent investment fraud, pedophilia, pornography and other online crimes took place on Telegram.

He said the Malaysian government had expressed a firm view on the importance of Telegram and any messaging or social media applications to always comply with and comply with the laws in force in Malaysia.

According to Fahmi, Telegram has expressed its commitment and is ready to establish a closer cooperation relationship with SKMM and PDRM.

"I welcome the collaboration with Telegram to curb crimes that occur in the application," said Fahmi.