KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry is studying a proposal for WhatsApp to verify phone numbers linked to user accounts to curb scams and prevent misuse of the platform.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the proposal was among several measures being considered to tackle phone-based scams.
“At present, WhatsApp does not require users to verify their accounts,” he said.
He said the issue was also raised by several countries at a recent International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting, following the misuse of WhatsApp for scam calls.
The ministry was also examining additional network-level measures following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) move to curb caller ID spoofing, in which scammers disguise their numbers to make calls appear to come from legitimate organisations or government agencies.
Fahmi said MCMC would never call the public to warn them of phone line suspensions or outstanding bills, as such matters were handled by telecommunications companies.
“MCMC does not handle such matters. They are the responsibility of the telcos.
“If you have arrears with a telco, the telco itself will call, not MCMC,” he told reporters at Razak Mansion today.
He advised those receiving suspicious calls to hang up and lodge a report with the police or MCMC, or contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997.
He said those involved in the syndicate would be investigated, and anyone found to have broken the law would be brought to court.
Yesterday, MCMC advised the public to verify the identities of anyone claiming to be its officers following the arrest of 61 people.