Yalinie Mathan
The Communications Ministry is studying WhatsApp verification of linked phone numbers. The aim is to curb scams and the impersonation of government officials. Meanwhile, more government services are going online, which gives scammers more to imitate.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said it is one of several steps under study. He spoke on 15 November at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur. It came after he launched a safety pilot for seniors at 1 Razak Mansion. Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh was also present.
Here is what Fahmi said, how the 61 arrested scammers worked and what WhatsApp does now. We also cover what to do if a scammer calls. However, no decision or start date has been given. Therefore, treat WhatsApp verification as a proposal for now.
WhatsApp verification proposal: what Fahmi said
Fahmi said WhatsApp does not now require users to be verified. Users already get a code by SMS or call to confirm a number. The idea goes further. It would check the user’s identity and linked number.
He said several countries raised WhatsApp scam calls at a recent ITU meeting. Many countries check users’ identities and linked numbers. As a result, Malaysia is looking at it too.
The ministry is studying whether it is workable. Moreover, it is looking at measures at the network level. Fahmi said the earlier block on spoofed caller IDs worked. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) put it in place. However, scammers changed their methods afterwards.
However, no source we found explains how WhatsApp verification would work. We also found no timeline and no reply from WhatsApp or Meta. Therefore, the details remain open.
WhatsApp verification and how the 61 scammers worked
Police raided three homes in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, on 3 November. They arrested 61 suspects: 15 Malaysians, 45 Indonesians and one Chinese national. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa announced it on 12 November.
Two syndicates targeted victims in Indonesia with fake part-time jobs. They contacted victims on WhatsApp and set “like and share” tasks. Victims were then told to pay money into mule accounts before they could get their promised pay.
The third syndicate called Malaysians while posing as MCMC officers. However, the reports do not say if those calls went through WhatsApp. Police seized 144 items worth about RM80,000. They included computers, phones, routers and scripts.
The suspects face charges of cheating and conspiracy under the Penal Code. In addition, no report we found says the scammers broke WhatsApp’s security. They used it to reach victims. Meanwhile, the reports give no loss figures.
Can WhatsApp security stop this? What the platform does now
WhatsApp says its automatic spam detection removes most spam and scam accounts before users see them or anyone reports them. Its own word is “most”. Therefore, some accounts do get through.
The company also said it banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centres in the first half of 2025. Its Safety Overview tool warns users when a non-contact adds them to a group. Those figures are global, not Malaysian.
Read more: Scam Ready ASEAN hub gives Malaysians free anti-scam tools
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Read more: Kaspersky reports surge in phishing and mobile malware
However, a registration code proves who holds a number, not who the person is. MCMC said in January that SIM Box devices and bulk SIM cards help create fake accounts and bypass platform controls. That raid in Kajang seized 50 SIM Box devices and 5,000 SIM cards.
No source we found tests if WhatsApp’s current tools can stop a case like Seri Kembangan. Fahmi said extra steps are needed. As a result, his identity check targets that gap. It sits between a registered number and a known person.
WhatsApp verification not yet decided: what to do if scammers call
Fahmi’s advice is simple. Hang up if someone claims to be an MCMC officer. After that, report it to the police or MCMC. You can also call the National Scam Response Centre at 997.
He said MCMC and the ministry do not make outgoing calls for enforcement. As a result, a threatening call from “MCMC” is likely a scam. Likewise, MCMC does not order line cut-offs, and it is not in charge of enforcement over unpaid telco bills.
Scammers have changed tactics before. Specifically, they moved on after the caller-ID curbs. Therefore, the ministry is now looking at WhatsApp.
In short, WhatsApp verification is under study, but nothing is decided. Until then, hang up on unknown callers and report them. Call 997 if you are unsure.
Sidhaarthan
Sashidaran Gunathevan
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