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Lesson · Safety before marriage
Love scams: a prevention guide for those seeking a spouse
People who are seeking a spouse — widows, divorcees, women approached as a prospective second wife, men who wish to marry again — are exactly the group targeted by love-scam syndicates. This page explains how the approach proceeds step by step, the differing scripts for men and women, the mule-account trap that turns a victim into a suspect, and what to do in the first 24 hours if money has already gone out.
📘 What you will learn
- Recognising the six stages of a love-scam approach — and recognising it before the first request for money
- Distinguishing the scripts commonly aimed at women from those aimed at men
- Understanding why receiving and transferring other people's money makes you a criminal suspect, not merely a victim
- Seeing the pressure to 'marry at once and don't tell your family' as a warning sign, not a sign of seriousness
- Listing the correct official channels and the order of action in the first 24 hours
In essence: A love scam is not a sudden request for money; it is a long process. The scammer builds trust over months with excessive attention, moves the conversation to a private channel, avoids meetings and video calls, manufactures a crisis, asks for a little first, then raises the request. At the middle stage, the victim is often asked to receive money into their account and transfer it on — and there they are exposed to prosecution as a mule account under the Penal Code and anti-money-laundering law. A scammer targeting Muslims will use the language of religion: marrying at once so it is 'not sinful to converse', secrecy from the family, and shame to isolate the victim — whereas a valid marriage requires a wali, two witnesses and registration, all of which require the family and the authorities to know of it. If money has already gone out: contact NSRC 997 and your bank at once, keep all the evidence, and make a police report.
This week's practice
- Before sending any money to anyone you have never met: check the phone number and account number on PDRM's Semak Mule portal
- Tell a family member or wali about anyone approaching you for marriage — today, not after there is a problem
- Save the NSRC 997 number in your phone now, together with your own bank's scam hotline number
At a glance
Pattern
The six stages of a romance scam's approach
The request for money comes only after trust has been built over months.
IntroductionA message from a stranger on a matchmaking site or social media; the profile photo is stolen.
The conversation is movedOff the original platform to WhatsApp or Telegram — no more records or user reports.
Excessive attentionLove bombing: soaring praise and declarations of love far too early, every day, for months.
No faceVideo calls refused or blurred; the scammer claims to work abroad.
A manufactured crisisDetained by immigration, an account frozen, medical costs, or a gift stuck at customs.
Rising requestsThe first is small and promised to be repaid; after that larger and more frequent.
Warning signs
Stop and ask before money moves
- Love declared far too early, by someone you have never met
- Every promised meeting is cancelled; the video call always has an excuse
- There is a request for money — the first amount is usually small
- You are asked to keep the relationship secret from family and wali
- A dramatic story: one crisis is resolved, another follows
- You are asked to receive money into your account and transfer it out
- Pressure to marry at once, without a wali, without witnesses, without registration
- Intimate photos or videos requested as "proof of trust"
- You are told to discard receipts, messages or transfer records
- The account holder's name does not match, or keeps changing
1What you will learn
This site is a reference on marriage and polygyny. Its readers include people who are seeking a spouse: widows and divorcees (see A widow's rights), women approached as a prospective second wife, and men who wish to marry again. That is the most valuable group for a love-scam syndicate, because their intentions are sincere and they are indeed waiting for someone to get in touch.
After reading this page you should be able to name the stages of the approach before it reaches the request for money; recognise the scripts commonly used against men and against women; explain why your own bank account can become the reason you are charged; see the pressure to marry at once and in secret as a warning sign; and state which official channels to contact, in the correct order.
The tone of this page. A victim of a love scam is not a fool. According to the analysis of the National Security Council (15 June 2026), based on data from PDRM's Commercial Crime Investigation Department, 72 per cent of victims are aged between 30 and 50, and the majority are professionals and working people whose financial position is stable. What is attacked is not intelligence — but loneliness, hope and a sense of responsibility. If you recognise yourself in this page, that is not a reason for shame; it is a reason to stop today.
2How the approach proceeds: six stages
Almost no victim is asked for money on the first day. That request comes after something else has first been built. The National Security Council (MKN) describes the early stage as love bombing — the victim is showered with "unusual attention, soaring praise, and declarations of love far too early" — and the scammer "spends months conversing every day to build solid trust" before the exploitation stage begins.
1 · An introduction that looks like chanceA message from a stranger on a matchmaking site, social media or a chat group. The profile looks attractive; MKN notes profile photos stolen from other people's accounts.
2 · The conversation is movedWithin a few days, the conversation is taken off the original platform to WhatsApp or Telegram. Off that platform there are no more user reports, no records, and no one checking.
3 · Excessive attentionMessages morning and night every day, love declared far too early, and a future planned together in the first weeks. This stage can run for months before anything is asked.
4 · The meeting and the face that never happenThere is always a reason: working abroad, long shifts, a broken camera, a bad connection. Video calls are refused, or only a few dark, blurred seconds. MKN: the scammer 'avoids a physical meeting or a video call and often claims to work abroad'.
5 · A manufactured crisisMKN lists among them: detained by immigration, a business bank account frozen, urgent medical costs, a gift stuck at customs, or a business project. The crisis is always urgent and always solvable with money.
6 · A small request, then risingThe first is small and reasonable, and usually promised to be repaid. After the first payment, the following requests are larger and more frequent — because what is really tested in the first payment is not the amount, but whether you will pay.
Two developments MKN mentions after the sixth stage. First, pig butchering: the victim is coaxed "to invest together in a fake cryptocurrency or share platform", and a display of fake profits makes them add their own money unasked. Second, sextortion: the criminal records the victim's intimate acts during a video call and threatens to spread them. If this happens to you, do not pay and do not delete anything — paying does not end the threat; report it.
3The scripts commonly aimed at women
What is shown below is a method, not a race or a country. This site does not name any race, nationality or individual as the typical scammer; scam syndicates operate from many places and use false identities chosen because they work, not because they are true. Each line below is from an official warning cited in the sources section.
| What is said | What is really happening |
|---|---|
| "I work abroad — an oil engineer, a doctor, a soldier on a mission. It is hard to come home." | An identity and occupation that cannot be verified, placed far away so that a meeting is impossible and a video call always has an excuse. MKN: the scammer "often claims to work abroad". The occupation mentioned is usually one that commands respect and explains the absence in one stroke. |
| "I have already sent you a gift and money, but the parcel is stuck at customs. Pay the duty first." | The gift never existed. MKN lists "a gift stuck at customs" as one of the pretexts for requesting money. Note its construction: you are told to pay in order to receive something, so it feels like claiming your own right, not giving money. |
| "I came to Malaysia to marry you. But I have been detained by immigration / my money has been frozen." | A crisis manufactured at the moment hope is highest. MKN lists "detained by immigration" and "a business bank account frozen". It is the promise of marriage at the end of the journey that makes this final request hard to refuse. |
| "Some money has come into your account. Please withdraw it and transfer it to this number." | This is no longer a request for money — this is recruiting you. See the mule account section: that money is usually another victim's money, and your account becomes a layer in the transfer chain. The consequence is not only loss, but prosecution. |
| "Let us marry first in a simple way so that our relationship is not sinful. Don't tell the family yet." | Religious dress over a request that contradicts that very religion. See the scams that wear religious dress section. |
| "Send me your photo. Prove that you trust me." | Material for later blackmail. MKN mentions cases of sextortion in which a recording of intimate acts during a video call is used to extort money. What is sent cannot be pulled back. |
Why this section matters specifically for this site's readers: a widow or divorcee who receives a proposal, or a woman approached as a prospective second wife, is often already prepared for a marriage that is quick, simple and unannounced. The scammer knows that. It is that good readiness that this script borrows.
4The scripts commonly aimed at men
Men too become victims. In the data reported by MKN (15 June 2026, source JSJK PDRM), women accounted for 60 per cent of all cases — which means a large share of victims are men, and the script differs.
- A family emergency. The same form as in the previous section, but turned towards a man's sense of responsibility: a sick mother, a younger sibling who needs school money, a debt chasing him. MKN lists "medical costs" and emergency pretexts as common reasons for a request.
- A gift as proof of loyalty. PDRM has warned of scammers claiming to be members of a royal family — among them using titles such as "Tengku" — to gain trust on social media, then coaxing the victim to hand over valuables such as gold and money as a token of loyalty and affection. Note the reversal: here the victim is coaxed into giving, not lent to.
- Investing together. The pig butchering that MKN mentions works well against men with a stable income: not a donation, but an "opportunity" shared by someone he trusts, on a fake crypto or share platform.
- A request to receive and transfer money. The same as in the script aimed at women, and usually wrapped as a "favour" or "commission-based side job". See the mule account section.
- A threat after a recording. Sextortion does not pick a gender, and the shame that stops a man from reporting is part of the plan.
5The mule account trap: from victim to suspect
This is the least-known and most destructive consequence. At one stage, many love-scam victims are no longer merely asked to send money; they are asked to receive money into their own account and transfer it to another account — "my client's money", "project money", "my salary cannot come into this country". At that moment, from the investigator's view, your account is a mule account.
MKN describes the method of layering: after the victim puts money into the first mule account, that money is immediately transferred to several other mule accounts to slow down and complicate tracing — a process that can be completed in a few minutes through internet banking. If your account is one of those layers, it is your name stamped on the flow of another victim's money.
Consequences for the account holder
- Criminal prosecution. MKN lists the provisions that may be applied to a mule account holder, among them Penal Code s.109 (abetment), s.411 (receiving stolen property), s.424 (fraudulently concealing property), s.120B (criminal conspiracy), s.4(1) AMLATFPUAA 2001 (money laundering) and s.137 of the Financial Services Act (the prohibition on accepting deposits).
- A new specific offence. According to MKN (14 July 2024), the Penal Code [Act 574] was amended by inserting s.424A to s.424D. Under s.424B — giving possession or control of a payment instrument or its account at a financial institution to another person without lawful authority or purpose — the penalty is a fine between RM10,000 and RM100,000, or imprisonment between one and seven years, or both. s.424A concerns possessing or controlling another person's payment instrument or account. This amendment was made because the previous law did not provide an offence against the account holder who allows his account to be used.
- The account is blacklisted and frozen. A mule account holder may be blacklisted and barred from opening a bank account anywhere.
- Your number is listed publicly. An account number and phone number involved in a commercial crime case can be checked by anyone on the PDRM Semak Mule portal — including by a prospective spouse, employer or buyer.
The "I didn't know" defence is hard, not impossible — but it depends entirely on evidence: when you knew, what you did the moment you knew, and whether you reported it yourself or were found out. That is why the first 24 hours section matters.
One rule, without exception. Never allow anyone to use your bank account, your card, or your e-wallet — not for a sweetheart, not for a prospective husband or wife, not for a "commission-based side job", and not for an online friend. If money comes into your account without your knowledge: do not withdraw it and do not transfer it. Contact your bank, report it, and keep a record that it was you who reported it.
6When a scam wears religious dress
A scammer targeting a reader like you will not talk about prostitution or alcohol. He will talk about marriage. Three requests that almost always come together, and all three contradict what this site explains elsewhere:
- "Let us marry at once so it is not sinful to converse." The urge to end that sin is genuine. But note what a valid marriage requires: a wali — the majority of scholars hold it a pillar (see Marriage wali) — and two witnesses, along with the offer and acceptance (see Conditions in the contract). A valid marriage, by its very construction, cannot be secret: it requires at least four other people to know of it. Anyone offering a path that bypasses the wali and witnesses is not saving you from sin.
- "Don't tell the family yet." This is not courtesy; this is isolation. In fiqh, it is the wali who pronounces the contract on the woman's behalf according to the majority, and if the wali refuses without a Shariah reason the path is an application for a wali hakim at the Syariah Court — not a secret marriage or a marriage abroad (see Marriage wali and Unregistered marriage). The Prophet ﷺ said: "The one whose counsel is sought is entrusted" (Sunan Abu Dawud 5128; sahih — also Sunan Ibn Majah 3745). A request that you ask no one is a request that you throw away the only protection you have.
- "Keep our relationship secret." MKN lists "asking to keep the relationship secret" as one of the characteristics of a love scam, along with "quickly declaring love", "avoiding meetings", "asking for money" and "a dramatic story". Shame is the tool: as long as you tell no one, no one can tell you.
The Unregistered marriage page already explains where that path leads even without a scammer: an unregistered marriage transfers almost all the risk of maintenance, inheritance and the child's documents to the wife and children, and that page lists the problems of syndicate marriages — an invalid wali hakim, false officiants and witnesses, forged documents. Add a scammer to that situation and you may not be married at all, only out of money.
Say it plainly: a scam is forbidden, and putting the name of religion over it changes nothing. The Prophet ﷺ said: "He is not one of us who deceives" (Sunan Ibn Majah 2224; sahih), and in another narration: "Whoever deceives is not of me" (Sahih Muslim, the book on faith). Allah says: "And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly" (Surah al-Baqarah 2:188), and "O you who believe, if a transgressor comes to you with news, verify it" (Surah al-Hujurat 49:6). Tabayyun — verifying before believing — is not ill thinking; it is a command.
7A checklist of warning signs
No single one of these signs proves a scam by itself. But when three or four gather, stop and ask someone before any money moves. The first five signs are characteristics MKN itself lists.
Love declared far too earlyDeep feelings and marriage plans within the first days or weeks, from someone you have never met.
Meetings always cancelledEvery promise to meet has a new obstacle. Video calls are refused, or only a few blurred seconds.
There is a request for moneyIn any form: a loan, an emergency, gift duty, a ticket, an investment, or a phone top-up. The first amount is usually small.
You are asked to keep it secretFrom family, from the wali, from friends. Including being asked not to tell the bank officer why you are making a transfer.
A dramatic storyOne crisis is resolved, another follows. The tale is large, detailed, and always needs immediate action.
The conversation is moved earlyWithin a few days, off the original platform to WhatsApp or Telegram — where there are no user reports and no trail.
You are asked to receive moneyMoney comes into your account to be transferred out. This is the gravest sign on this list: stop immediately.
Pressure to marry at once and in secretMarriage without a wali, without witnesses you know, without registration — or "marry abroad first, sort it out later".
Intimate photos or videos requestedAs "proof of trust". It is blackmail material, and the request itself is enough to end the conversation.
You are asked to delete evidenceReceipts, messages or transfer records told to be discarded. There is no honest reason for that request.
The bank name does not matchThe account holder's name differs from that person's name, or changes from one transfer to the next.
You begin to go into debtBorrowing, cashing out savings, pawning gold, or using family money to continue. This is usually a late stage, not the beginning.
The simplest test. Tell the whole relationship to a family member, a wali, or an officer at your bank counter — from the start, with the real amounts of money. If you find you cannot bear to tell it, or find yourself hiding part of it, the part you are hiding is the answer. A love scam survives on secrecy and dies when told to a third party.
8How to check before money goes out
Everything below is free, takes a few minutes, and is done before anything is sent.
- Check the account number and phone number on PDRM's Semak Mule portal — semakmule.rmp.gov.my, the portal of PDRM's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK/CCID), also as the "Semak Mule CCID" app. Enter the bank account number or phone number; no registration is required. PDRM itself advises the public to check on this portal before proceeding with a transaction. Remember its limit: this portal checks what has already been reported — an account clean today may be new, not safe.
- Check the profile photo. MKN advises using a reverse image search (reverse image search) to detect a profile photo stolen from someone else.
- Ask for an ordinary video call, without advance notice. Not to test the honesty of an honest person — an honest person is not troubled — but because refusal, repeatedly, is information.
- Ask someone trustworthy. MKN lists "get the views of those closest to you" among the preventive steps. For this site's readers, that person is often already there: your wali.
- Practise the 3T concept (MKN): Tanya (Ask) — ask relevant questions before any online transaction; Teliti (Scrutinise) — judge whether the offer is reasonable; Tidak Tamak (Do not be greedy) — do not be tempted by an offer too good to be true.
- Do not disclose banking information. Your full card number, OTP, PIN and banking passwords are given to no one, including the one you love.
For the wali and family. If someone in your care is seeking a spouse, you are not an interferer. Ask to speak with the prospective spouse by video call, and ask for their full name and how to contact their family. An honest proposal is not troubled by that request — that is exactly how it should go; see Khitbah & ta'aruf. And do not make your child or relative feel they will be shamed if they make a mistake; it is that shame that keeps a victim from speaking.
9If it has already happened: the first 24 hours
Speed decides almost everything, because the money moves through several layers of accounts in a few minutes. The official MyGovernment portal states the time condition plainly: "Make a report by telephone within 24 hours of realising you have been scammed". Do steps 1 through 3 at the same time if you can — do not finish one before beginning the next.
1 · Contact NSRC 997The National Scam Response Centre hotline. The MyGovernment portal states the operating hours as 'Every Day (24 hours)'. Have ready: the recipient's account number, the amount, the date and time of transfer, and the scammer's phone number.
2 · Contact your own bankYour bank's scam hotline, 24 hours. BNM advises the public to contact their respective banks immediately. Ask for the recipient's account to be blocked and ask for the reference number of your report.
3 · Make a police reportAt the nearest station — a step the MyGovernment portal lists together with the two steps above. Bring all records. Keep a copy of the report; you will need it for the bank and for any claim.
4 · Do not delete anythingKeep the entire conversation, phone numbers, profiles, photos, receipts and transfer slips — even the embarrassing ones. Do not edit. A scammer who asks you to discard the receipts is destroying your case.
5 · Cut off contact, without explanationDo not warn them, do not plead, do not try to recover the money through that person. Telling the scammer you now know only speeds the transfer of money out.
6 · If your account was usedIf other people's money has ever come in and gone out through your account, say so in your own report, early and voluntarily. See the mule account section.
7 · Do not pay anyone to 'recover' the moneyAn offer to get your money back for an upfront fee is a second scam on the same victim. Money recovery is only through the bank and the police.
8 · Look after yourself, and speakTell a family member the same day. For emotional support and referral, Talian Kasih 15999 (24 hours) or see the Counselling page.
A note on 997. The MyGovernment portal lists the 997 call and the police report at the station as separate steps, so do both. Likewise the operating hours: the NFCC page at the Prime Minister's Department still says "between 8.00am and 8.00pm every day", while the MyGovernment portal says 24 hours. Call without waiting for the morning; if there is no answer, go straight to the bank and to the police station.
10Verified official channels
Every line in this table was checked on the relevant agency's official page while this page was being prepared (October 2026). Numbers and links change — check again if the date above is now old. A number we could not verify on the official page is not printed here.
| Channel | Relationship | Time | For what |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSRC — National Scam Response Centre | 997 | Every day, 24 hours (MyGovernment portal). Verified. | The first call after money goes out. A joint effort of NFCC, PDRM, BNM and MCMC; after receiving a report it coordinates action to prevent further loss, trace the money, investigate, and take enforcement action. NSRC does not make outgoing calls — anyone who phones you claiming to be an NSRC officer is a scammer. |
| Your own bank | The scam hotline printed on the back of your card or on your bank's website | Usually 24 hours | Blocking the recipient's account and your own account if needed. BNM advises the public to contact their respective banks immediately. |
| Police station | The nearest station; 999 for immediate danger | 24 hours | A police report for a scam case. The MyGovernment portal lists this as one of three steps together with the NSRC call and contacting the bank. |
| Semak Mule — PDRM's JSJK/CCID portal | semakmule.rmp.gov.my — also the "Semak Mule CCID" app | Online | Checking a bank account number and phone number that have been used in a commercial crime case. No registration. PDRM advises checking before proceeding with a transaction. |
| CCID Scam Response Centre — PDRM's Commercial Crime Investigation Department | 03-2610 1559 or 03-2610 1599 | A PDRM announcement (2022) states 8am – 10pm every day. | Asking about the modus operandi of commercial crime and suspicious calls or offers. |
| Bank Negara Malaysia — BNMTELELINK | 1-300-88-5465 · [email protected] · SMS: type BNM TANYA followed by your enquiry, send to 15888 | BNMLINK (counter): Monday–Friday, 9am – 5pm, Block D, Jalan Dato' Onn, 50480 Kuala Lumpur | Enquiries and complaints concerning financial institutions and suspicious schemes. BNM is not the investigator of your individual case — it issues warnings, receives complaints and directs you to your bank and to the police. BNM is also part of NSRC. |
| MCMC — Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission | 1800 188 030 · aduan.mcmc.gov.my | 8.30 am – 5.30 pm, Monday–Friday | The communications and platform aspect: phone numbers, SMS and online content. MCMC states that it is not the sole authority over online content — a crime report still goes to the police. MCMC is also part of NSRC. |
| Talian Kasih — KPWKM/JKM | 15999 · WhatsApp 019-261 5999 | 24 hours, 7 days | Support, counselling and welfare referral. Not a channel for recovering money — but the loss of money after a trusted relationship leaves a real mark, and speaking with someone on the first day helps. |
Online police reports: do not be confused. PDRM has an e-Reporting portal (ereporting.rmp.gov.my) for making police reports online, but that facility is provided specifically for the loss of documents or items unconnected with crime, and not for cases that require immediate police action. That means: a love scam cannot be reported there. The path is 997 and the police station.
11Where this page cannot help
Honest about its limits, because a page that promises too much is itself a form of danger.
- We cannot check anyone for you. This site has no access to bank records, immigration records or police records, and cannot tell you whether a person is genuine. What can check an account number and phone number is the Semak Mule portal; what can investigate is the police.
- We cannot recover your money. No website can. The best chance is a call in the first hours to NSRC 997 and to your bank — and even that is no guarantee, because the money moves through several layers of accounts in a few minutes.
- We are not your lawyer. If your account has ever been used to receive or transfer other people's money, you need legal advice specific to your situation, not a general page.
- We name no one. This site does not list the names, photographs or "blacklist" of individuals, and it does not associate fraud with any race or country. Such lists harm the innocent and become an instrument of prejudice; the authority empowered to list is the PDRM, through Semak Mule.
- We cannot replace the people around you. The most effective protection in this entire page is not a telephone number — it is a wali, a relative or a friend who knows what is happening before the money moves.
And one thing this page can do: tell you that seeking a spouse is not a wrong, trusting people is not a weakness, and being deceived is not a sin. The one who sins is the fraudster. If you have already lost money, lost trust, or lost both — move forward from today, not from shame. See Counselling.
12Test yourself
Try to answer first before reading the answer.
Which number is called first after realising the money has gone, and within what time?NSRC 997, and the MyGovernment portal states that a report is made by telephone call within 24 hours of realising you have been deceived. At the same time: contact your own bank, and lodge a police report at the station.
A prospective husband asks you to receive money into your account and transfer it on. What is the risk to you?You become the holder of a mule account. The MKN lists among them Penal Code s.109, s.411, s.424, s.120B, s.4(1) AMLATFPUAA 2001 and s.137 of the Financial Services Act; and under s.424B of the Penal Code (inserted 2024), the penalty is a fine of RM10,000–RM100,000 or imprisonment of 1–7 years or both. Your account may also be blacklisted.
"Let us marry first so that we do not sin, but do not tell your family." Why does this request contradict itself?Because a valid marriage requires a wali (a pillar according to the majority) and two witnesses, besides the registration required by law. A valid marriage requires several other people to know of it — so it cannot be a secret. See Marriage wali, Conditions in the contract and Unofficial marriage.
Where can an account number and a telephone number be checked before making a transfer?The PDRM Semak Mule portal at semakmule.rmp.gov.my, or the "Semak Mule CCID" app. No registration. Remember its limit: it checks what has already been reported, so a clean result is no guarantee.
Can a love-scam report be made through the PDRM e-Reporting portal?No. That portal is provided for the loss of documents or items that are not related to crime. Fraud is reported through 997 and at a police station.
A fraudster threatens to spread intimate recordings unless you pay. What do you do?Do not pay — payment does not end the threat — and do not delete anything. Keep the evidence, report to the police, and contact 997. For the platform and phone-number side, the MCMC at 1800 188 030 or aduan.mcmc.gov.my.
What are the three things in the MKN 3T concept?Ask — asking relevant questions before a transaction; Scrutinise — assessing whether the offer is reasonable; Do Not Be Greedy — not being tempted by an offer too good to be true.
Sources & references
Surah al-Baqarah 2:188 — the prohibition against consuming others' property by wrongful meansSurah an-Nisa' 4:29 — the prohibition against consuming one another's property by false meansSurah al-Hujurat 49:6 — the command to verify (tabayyun) news that arrivesSurah al-Isra' 17:36 — do not follow that of which you have no knowledgeSahih Muslim, the book on faith — "Whoever deceives is not one of me" (the hadith of the heap of food, Abu Hurairah; cited by book, not by number)Sunan Ibn Majah 2224 — "He who deceives is not one of us" (sahih)Sunan Abu Dawud 5128; Sunan Ibn Majah 3745 — "The one whose counsel is sought is entrusted" (sahih)Sunan Abu Dawud 2085; Sunan at-Tirmidhi 1101; Sunan Ibn Majah 1881 — "There is no marriage save with a wali" (sahih); see the Marriage wali pageMyGovernment portal (malaysia.gov.my), "Hotline NSRC 997" — number 997; operating hours "Every Day (24 hours)"; "Making a report by telephone call within 24 hours of realising you have been deceived"; three steps: contact NSRC, contact the bank, lodge a police report at the nearest station (checked October 2026)National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC), Prime Minister's Department — nfcc.jpm.gov.my, "About NSRC": NSRC is a joint effort of the NFCC, PDRM, BNM and MCMC; after receiving a report it coordinates action to prevent further loss, trace the money, investigate and take enforcement action; the page mentions hours "between 8.00am and 8.00pm every day, including public holidays"; NSRC does not make outbound callsPDRM (rmp.gov.my), the notice "Use Semak Mule before proceeding with a transaction" — the Semak Mule portal at semakmule.rmp.gov.my and the "Semak Mule CCID" app; it checks bank account numbers and telephone numbers used in commercial crime casesPDRM (rmp.gov.my), the notice "Contact the CCID Scam Response Center if any online fraud occurs" (2022) — 03-2610 1559 and 03-2610 1599; the hours stated 8 am to 10 pm every dayPDRM (rmp.gov.my), "Scam Alert: Beware the cunning tactics of love-scam fraud" (2021) — fraudsters pose as relatives' family members to gain trust on social media, then persuade the victim to hand over valuables such as gold and money as a sign of loyalty and affectionPDRM, the e-Reporting portal (ereporting.rmp.gov.my) — a facility for making police reports online for the loss of documents or items not related to crime; cases requiring immediate police action must be made at a stationNational Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Cyber love trap: how 'love scam' manipulates your emotions and money" (15 June 2026) — the love-bombing and exploitation stages; manufactured crises (detained by immigration, business account frozen, medical costs); pig butchering; sextortion; stolen profile photographs; reverse image search; checking on Semak Mule; NSRC 997. The figures it cites from JSJK PDRM: 251 cases in the first three months of 2026 with losses exceeding RM6.6 million; women 60 per cent of cases; 72 per cent of victims aged 30–50 yearsNational Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Avoid becoming a love-scam victim" (11 June 2026) — characteristics of the fraud: quick to declare love, avoiding meetings, asking for money, asking to keep the relationship secret, dramatic stories; the fraudster avoids a physical meeting or video call and claims to work abroad; reasons for the money requests include emergencies, a gift stuck at customs and business projects; preventive steps and NSRC 997National Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Mule accounts: the scammer's slaves" (23 March 2023) — the definition of a mule account, the method of recruitment, and the provisions that may be imposed on the account holder: Penal Code s.109, s.411, s.424, s.120B; s.4(1) AMLATFPUAA 2001; s.137 of the Financial Services ActNational Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Mule accounts, beware" (14 July 2024) — the Penal Code [Act 574] amended with s.424A–424D; s.424B: a fine between RM10,000 and RM100,000, or imprisonment between one and seven years, or bothNational Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Staged transfer of money by fraud syndicates (layering)" — money paid into the first mule account is transferred immediately to several other mule accounts to make tracing difficult; the process can be completed within minutesNational Security Council (mkn.gov.my), "Practise the 3T concept to avoid online fraud" (8 September 2024) — Ask, Scrutinise, Do Not Be GreedyBank Negara Malaysia (bnm.gov.my), "Fraud and Scam Notices" — BNMTELELINK 1-300-88-5465, [email protected], SMS "BNM TANYA" to 15888, the BNMLINK counter at Block D, Jalan Dato' Onn, 50480 Kuala Lumpur (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm); advice to contact your own bank immediately; BNM never asks for personal banking detailsMalaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (mcmc.gov.my), "Making a Complaint" — 1800 188 030 (8.30 am – 5.30 pm, Monday–Friday), the portal aduan.mcmc.gov.myMinistry of Women, Family and Community Development (kpwkm.gov.my) and the MyGovernment portal — Talian Kasih 15999, WhatsApp 019-261 5999, 24 hours a day, 7 days, operated by the Department of Social WelfarePenal Code [Act 574] s.109, s.120B, s.411, s.424, s.424A–424DAnti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 [Act 613] s.4(1)Financial Services Act 2013 s.137 — the prohibition against accepting deposits
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