Online fraud and the Communications Act
Your scam involved fake calls, messages, or a fraudulent website.
Updated 2026-09-29 · Independent resource. Legal review pending.
What this law actually covers
The Communications and Multimedia Act is the law governing telecommunications and online communications in Malaysia. It covers offences such as improper use of network facilities. This can apply to fraudulent calls, spoofed numbers, fake websites, or messages used to run a scam.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates and enforces under this Act. This sits alongside criminal charges over the scam itself, since it addresses the communications channel used rather than the deception or the money.
Why this is a separate channel from your bank or the police
A scam usually has two sides: the financial trail, which your bank and the police handle, and the communications method used to reach you, which falls under this Act. Reporting to MCMC does not replace a police report or a bank dispute. It works alongside them.
This matters most when the scam relied heavily on a spoofed caller ID or a fake website impersonating a real company. It also matters for bulk fraudulent messages, since these are exactly what this channel is built to address.
When this becomes relevant to your case
If you received calls that appeared to come from a bank, an authority, or a known number, but were not genuine, this is the kind of misuse this Act targets. The same applies to a fake website built to look like a real platform.
Keeping screenshots of the number, the messages, and the website address helps if you decide to report through this channel. Specific details make any report more actionable.
What it does not replace
Reporting to MCMC addresses the communications method used in the scam, not the deception itself or your financial loss. The police report and CCID investigation remain the main route for the criminal side. A civil claim remains the route aimed at recovering what you can identify.
Treating this as one channel among several, rather than the main one, gives a more realistic picture. It shows how a scam case usually moves forward.
What to do next
If your scam involved a spoofed number, a fake website, or fraudulent bulk messages, save the exact number, the web address, and any screenshots before they disappear. These details are specific to this channel and worth keeping separately.
From there, continue with your police report and consider whether legal action is worth pursuing for your amount. That remains the main path toward addressing your loss.
If your scam used spoofed calls, a fake website, or fraudulent messages, tell us what you experienced and we will help you see which channels apply.
Common questions
What does the Communications and Multimedia Act cover?
It is the law governing telecommunications and online communications in Malaysia, including offences involving misuse of network facilities for fraudulent calls, messages, or content. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates under this Act.
Should I report to MCMC as well as the police?
If your scam involved spoofed calls, fake websites, or fraudulent messages, reporting to MCMC can address that specific channel alongside your police report. The two cover different angles of the same scam and are usually handled separately.
Does MCMC help me recover my money?
Not directly. MCMC's role relates to the communications and network side of a scam, while recovering money runs through your bank, the police investigation, and potentially a civil claim.
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Read thisIf your scam used spoofed calls, a fake website, or fraudulent messages, tell us what you experienced and we will help you see which channels apply.