Scam syndicates are impersonating Ministry of Finance officers through phone calls, targeting recipients of Malaysia’s cash aid programmes to steal personal and banking details.
The Finance Ministry confirmed on its official Facebook page that fraudsters are posing as officers from Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara), using phone numbers designed to resemble official MOF hotlines, The Rakyat Post reported. STR provides monthly cash aid to lower-income households, while Sara delivers basic necessities assistance through the MyKasih system.
The calls sound official, the numbers look legitimate, and the callers seem to know just enough to make recipients think twice before hanging up. The scammers seek MyKad numbers, bank account details, TAC and OTP codes, as well as banking passwords and PINs. Anyone who hands over this information gives fraudsters everything they need to access their accounts.
The ministry was unequivocal: it has never appointed any third party to use the official STR or Sara hotlines. As The Star noted, MOF officers will never request payment or personal details by phone. If the caller asks for banking details or requests payment of any kind, they are not from the Finance Ministry.
The ministry advised the public never to share personal or financial information over the phone with anyone claiming to represent STR or Sara, regardless of how convincing the caller sounds or how familiar the phone number appears.
Recipients can verify any suspicious call by contacting the official STR and Sara hotline at 03-8882 4565 or 03-8882 4566. MOF urged people not to panic, end the call immediately, and check with the hotline before acting.
A separate scam also surfaced around the same time. A viral poster claimed every Malaysian aged 18 and above would receive a one-off RM100 Sara payment timed to National Day. The Finance Ministry confirmed the poster was fake and said no official announcement had been made about any such payment. The ministry advised the public to check its official channels before believing or sharing anything about Sara. It advised citizens to obtain verified information through official MOF channels before sharing any claim online.
Both incidents point to ongoing efforts by scam syndicates to exploit government aid programmes. The ministry reminded the public to always verify information through its official channels before acting on any claim about STR or Sara assistance.
