The new scam of 'silent calls copying voices' is spreading. Datuk Seri Chong Tian Chye, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department Head, urges the public to stay alert and beware of scams impersonating your voice!
According to Chong, he recently received a police-recorded video exposing fraud syndicates’ latest trick: they use silent calls to record a victim’s voice, then impersonate the victim to borrow money from their friends and family.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chong explained, based on the police officer’s video, that scammers often call from a stranger’s number. When the public answers, the caller deliberately remains silent, prompting the victim to repeatedly say “Hello?” or ask “Who is this?”
“The officer pointed out that just three to five seconds of reaction is enough for scammers to record the victim’s voice. Once the recording is obtained, scammers use technology to simulate the victim’s voice and then contact the victim’s family or friends, requesting emergency loans.”
Chong noted that there have been multiple reports of similar cases recently, indicating that this scam method is rapidly spreading.
He stressed that this is a highly dangerous new type of scam. The scammer doesn’t need to converse with the victim—just a few seconds of audio is enough to create a highly realistic fake voice.
He urges the public not to rush to speak when answering unknown calls, and to stay vigilant.
According to the police officer’s recommendations, he provided the public with several preventative measures, including:
(1) When receiving a call from an unknown number, let the caller introduce themselves first—don’t rush to speak;
(2) If the caller remains silent, hang up immediately;
(3) Even if the voice sounds like a friend or family member, always confirm their identity through other means (such as video calls);
(4) Stay calm with any 'urgent loan' requests, and verify the situation first.
Chong stated that as scam techniques using technology continue to evolve, the public must remain highly vigilant. Do not easily trust unknown calls or messages. If you encounter anything similar, immediately contact the police or the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department to prevent more people from being scammed.