BNM Strengthens Digital Security System, Tackles Financial Scams Through NSRC

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), together with enforcement agencies, will continue to strengthen the digital security system and expedite action through the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) to ensure that financial fraud can be combated.

BNM Deputy Governor Adnan Zaylani Mohamad Zahid said these efforts are crucial to ensure the public remains confident in continuing to conduct financial transactions safely.

“The need to prepare oneself from becoming a victim of financial fraud is very important because in Penang alone, in the first six months of this year, the public has already lost more than RM90 million to financial scams.

“The modus operandi of these scams is constantly changing—becoming more cunning, more difficult to detect. Today it may be a fake phone call, tomorrow a fake website or an application that looks legitimate. Therefore, the public must always stay alert and cautious,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Penang Financial Literacy Carnival (KCK) in Bayan Lepas here, today.

He said that strengthening digital security is also among the focus areas of the Financial Literacy Month 2025 (FLM2025), and the Financial Literacy Squad has travelled to more than 100 locations, engaging with over 23,000 people from various segments of society, including youth, micro-entrepreneurs, and rural and remote communities.

From these engagement sessions, he said three main needs of the people were identified, namely awareness of savings and debt management, confusion regarding investments and digital scams, and the need for easy-to-understand financial guidance.

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Adnan Zaylani also stressed the importance of delivering financial knowledge in simple language, as well as returning to the core values of Islamic finance such as trust, fairness, and public interest as a guide for making good and ethical financial decisions.

He said the central bank will continue the FLM initiative next year under the National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2026–2030, with the major goal of making financial literacy a way of life.

The Penang KCK, which has been held since last Friday, brings financial education directly to the community through interactive exhibitions, service counters, educational talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities, with an expected 20,000 visitors over the three-day event.

The Penang KCK marks the culmination of FLM2025, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last month.

-- BERNAMA