PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to invest more resources to enhance the operation and infrastructure of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commission member Derek John Fernandez said it is unacceptable for the NSRC to operate only during weekdays from 8am to 8pm, given the sophisticated nature and technology advancement adopted by scammers in carrying out their schemes.
Such a situation, he said, indirectly sends a message to irresponsible quarters that the people in the country are vulnerable to being duped and falling victim to scammers outside the NSRC's operation hours.
"I hope greater resources will be put in (to strengthen the NSRC).
"The centre must be able to operate around the clock seven days a week and equipped with the proper facilities and tools to not only combat scams but also carry out diagnostic work.
"For example, in the event a scam did not succeed (in luring its victims), the centre should be capable of carrying out diagnostics to trace and locate the culprits to put an end to their operation.
"We must remember that the enemy does not sleep and they are always looking (for victims) when you are sleeping," Fernandez, who is also the MCMC Online Harms and Information chairman.
He is one of the presenters speaking during the #Jangankenascam Fraud Workshop for media professionals at Menara Kenara TTDI here today.
Other presenters include Maybank Group chief executive officer of Global Banking Datuk John Chong, Commercial Crime Investigation Department's Corporate/Financial Crime Investigation Division principal assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Koh Seok Keng, and New Straits Times executive editor Sharanjit Singh.
Fernandez pointed out there is a need to change the approach in combating online scams.
"Instead of being on the defensive, we should 'attack' (prevent the scams from happening)," he said.
Although NSRC only operates five days in a week, consumers, who feel they have fallen victims on online fraud and scams, can always call their respective banks' hotlines that are available24/7.
Consumers can called the hotlines for assistance and to deactivate their online banking access or banking accounts or credit cards.
During the event, attendees were told that the NSRC could only operate from 8am until 8pm from Monday until Friday since the centre is understaffed and did not have enough logistical and technological support.
Koh, however, said a request has been made for the government to provide greater support to enhance NSRC operations.
"The response centre is for people who transfer money to a third-party account within 24 hours.
"The centre is where representatives from the MCMC, police, as well as banks, sit together. We will take calls, record what actually happened, and identify the mode of scam involved.
"The people at the centre will try to trace and earmark the money (in an effort to stop the scam)," she said.
NSRC is a joint effort between the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC), police, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), MCMC, as well as financial institutions and the telecommunications industry.
Members of the public can contact NSRC at 997 to report online financial scams.
It was previously reported that the NSRC focuses on online financial scams, including phishing scams, Macau scams, malware attack scams, package delivery or parcel scams, and love scams.