KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Police have opened 165,501 investigation papers into online scam cases since 2023, with tens of thousands of arrests made and millions of ringgit in assets seized, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The figures were reported by The Star in its coverage of a parliamentary written reply by Saifuddin to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar).

In the same reply, Saifuddin said the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) recorded cases involving love scams, e-commerce fraud and investment scams between 2023 and May 2026.

He said 60,955 cases had been resolved, while 24,681 had been brought to court.

Police also carried out 43,343 operations targeting scam call centres nationwide, leading to the arrest of 44,990 suspects linked to online fraud.

Authorities also moved to dismantle financial networks tied to the syndicates by invoking anti-money laundering laws, including the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Saifuddin said RM6.66 million in assets were seized in 2025, with a further RM2.07 million confiscated between January and May this year, involving cash, vehicles and electronic devices.

He also acknowledged concerns over links between scam syndicates and human exploitation, saying investigations had uncovered cases of digital forced labour.

Victims, he said, were often held in condominiums, had their passports taken, and were forced to work under threats.

Between 2023 and May 31 this year, police opened 18 investigation papers involving such exploitation, arrested 54 individuals, and rescued 178 victims.

Of those rescued, 62 foreign nationals were officially classified as trafficking victims and placed under protection orders before being repatriated with embassy coordination.

Saifuddin said the government would continue strengthening enforcement under national security policy frameworks to curb online scams and related trafficking networks.