Banks in Malaysia today honoured 67 exemplary bank staff for their exceptional efforts in preventing customers from falling victim to scams, at the #JanganKenaScam Bank Heroes Recognition Event 2025. As representatives of a larger network of dedicated bank staff who have prevented countless scam cases, these inspiring individuals have collectively stopped fraudulent transactions totaling over RM12.4 million, significantly contributing to the financial safety of bank customers

The Bank Heroes Recognition event is part of the refreshed #JanganKenaScam campaign, a nationwide scam awareness initiative launched in 2023 by The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) and The Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM). Jointly organised with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), this event signifies a commitment further exemplified by the strong collaboration between banks and law enforcement through shared resources and expertise for more effective scam prevention.

Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, Chairman of the National Taskforce to Combat Fraud and Group CEO of Community Financial Services, Maybank said, “As an industry, we take immense pride in the dedication of bank staff across various banks, who serve as frontline defenders against financial scams. Their proactive efforts in detecting and preventing scams have been instrumental in safeguarding the hard-earned money of the Malaysian public. Through continued collaboration between banks, law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders, we remain steadfast in strengthening fraud prevention measures and reducing the prevalence of scams nationwide.”

An example of such an intervention was demonstrated by a bank’s Premier Wealth Centre SS2 >branch staff – En. Azmi, Pn. Yusrina and Pn. Mazuriana, who stepped in to prevent a senior citizen from falling victim to a RM390,000 scam. Despite having mobility issues, the customer physically visited the branch to perform an urgent premature upliftment of Fixed Deposit, with the intention to transfer substantial sums to multiple accounts. Realising the unusual nature of the transaction, the branch staff intervened and contacted the customer’s family to alert them. This timely intervention successfully thwarted the scammer’s attempts and saved the customer’s funds.

Commissioner of Police, Dato’ Sri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, Director of Commercial Crime Investigation Department said, “RMP deeply values the support of the banking sector, particularly in terms of sharing vital information and expertise. This collaboration has been instrumental in implementing a range of initiatives aimed at preventing commercial crimes, including scams.”

“In 2024, RMP successfully carried out 24,388 raids nationwide, resulting in the arrest of 25,829 individuals suspected of being involved in various commercial crimes, including scams.

Furthermore, 16,813 cases were successfully prosecuted in court. These accomplishments were made possible through the effective cooperation between RMP and the banking sector, whose shared commitment to tackling scams continues to yield positive results. I hope that, together, we will continue to strengthen this partnership in the year ahead, achieving even greater success,” he added.

Throughout the #JanganKenaScam campaign, the banking industry has conducted various activities to raise public awareness and equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves from scams. Experiential booths and informational exhibitions have been set up across the country to provide practical insights into scam tactics and prevention strategies. The public is encouraged to take personal responsibility by staying informed, remaining vigilant, and taking action to protect themselves and their communities from falling victim to financial fraud.

A total of 67 bank staff from 10 banks were recognised today at the Bank Heroes Recognition Event. The featured banks include Agrobank, Alliance Bank, AmBank, Bank Islam, CIMB Bank, Maybank, OCBC Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank and UOB Bank.

Between 2023 and 2024, the banking industry has successfully intercepted and prevented suspicious and fraudulent online transactions worth more than RM780 million.