Blocking of Fraudulent SMS To Combat Online Fraud

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL

• What is this blocking about?

  In order to prevent individuals from becoming online scam scams, the Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a directive to all telcos on 14 February 2023 to block sending and receiving of short messaging service (SMS) from local, international mobile numbers and applications containing below contents:

  • URL link and any clickable link e.g. shorten URL; shorten URL;
    
  • Request for user’s personal information e.g name, IC number, account number and
  • Mobile and fixed line number

  
  Blockings are being implemented in stages; started from 2 May 2023 for SMS between individuals; the next and last stage is the blocking of SMS containing the above 3 elements from mobile and applications such as Enterprise SMS service and Maxis IoT SIM from 2 July 2023.

• What information is not allowed in SMS content?

  Any hyperlink (URL), request for personal information such as name, IC number and account number and fixed or mobile number are not allowed in the SMS content.
  

• If I accidentally initiated sending of SMS containing URL, personal information or phone numbers and it was blocked, will I be charged for blocked SMS?

  No. You will not be charged if the SMS is blocked.
  

• I have important URL and personal data to share with my family and friends, what are my options?

  You may still share the link via social apps or instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and WeChat and etc.

  Please be reminded, do not click on any links sent from unknown senders and to only login to your eWallet or online banking account via the official URL and mobile app. Do share this with your loved ones.
  

• I am a business user and company sent SMS to users via Enterprise SMS (ESMS) and Maxis IoT SIM, what will happen to that?

  The blocking of disallowed content in SMS is being done in phrases, it starts with SMS between individual, blocking of URL in SMS sent by business via short codes such as 6XXXX, 2XXXX and 1XXXX will be from effective 2 July 2023. Please refer to FAQ in Maxis Business website.
  

• Why am I still receiving SMS with URL and personal information after 2 July 2023?

  MCMC has given exemption for relevant essential services businesses to include URL or personal information for convenience of users and this is based on MCMC approval. Please refer to MCMC website for more information.