Ministry weighs mandatory verification for WhatsApp accounts
Fahmi says the proposal follows growing misuse by scam syndicates and aligns with discussions among International Telecommunication Union members.
The Communications Ministry is examining whether WhatsApp should be required to check account holders’ identities and associated telephone numbers as part of efforts to tackle online scams, Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said.
Speaking at Razak Mansion in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 15, Fahmi said rising misuse of the platform by scam syndicates had prompted the study. He said the proposal also aligned with discussions among International Telecommunication Union member countries.
Fahmi said syndicates had adopted different methods after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) introduced technical measures against spoofed calls. These included using WhatsApp and offering loans for online gambling.
Addressing the arrest of 61 suspects over scams involving impersonation of MCMC personnel, he said those involved would face court charges if found to have broken the law.
He said neither MCMC nor the ministry called the public about unpaid telephone bills or enforcement issues, adding that telecommunications companies handled billing. He urged recipients to hang up on suspicious callers and report them to police or MCMC, or call the National Scam Response Centre at 997.
