THE Ministry of Communications and Digital through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a directive to all telecommunication companies to block any URL links in short message service (SMS).

Deputy minister Teo Nie Ching said the instruction was issued to prevent consumers from becoming victims of online fraud.

“The MCMC has given this directive to telco companies to ensure that no one presses the wrong URL and possibly end up as a victim.

“Several online scams rely on people clicking on the link, and after giving their personal information, they find themselves being scammed,” she said in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, she said the directive would come into effect in phases and hoped that the companies involved would be able to implement it soon. – Bernama, April 1, 2023.