Malaysian finance ministry warns against 'false' e-wallet subsidy scheme posts

Published on June 3, 2025 at 10:28
2 min read
By Raevathi SUPRAMANIAM, AFP Malaysia

Malaysia's finance ministry has warned the public to be wary of fraudulent social media posts claiming the government is handing out a 300 ringgit ($70 USD) cash aid via e-wallets. The Facebook posts share external links to phishing sites asking users for private information, including national identification and phone numbers. Genuine government subsidies are disbursed to eligible participants' identity cards or bank accounts.

"The following are the qualifying conditions for RM300 e-wallet subsidy for all groups that will be provided every month of 2025. Check now!" reads a Malay-language Facebook post on May 10.

It includes a graphic with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's "Malaysia Madani" policy framework logo and text that repeats the false claim.

Screenshot of the false post, taken June 2

The post includes a link to an external website masquerading as the website for Touch 'n Go, a Malaysian digital payment and e-wallet service, where users are asked to input their national identity card and phone numbers to "check eligibility" for the purported subsidy.

Similar posts surfaced elsewhere on Facebook, but the Malaysian government is not disbursing aid through e-wallets in 2025.

The Ministry of Finance rejected the claims in a statement on its official Facebook page on May 4, calling the posts "false" (archived link).

"If you're not sure, don't click and avoid being a victim of fraud!" it said.

Screenshot of the finance ministry's Facebook post taken on May 29, 2025

Malaysia announced it would allocate 13 billion ringgit in its 2025 budget as cash aid to lower-income groups (archived link).

It is split into two categories -- one for groceries that is credited directly to a recipient's identity cards and another cash aid scheme disbursed in four phases to the recipient's bank account (archived link).

The finance ministry also urged the public to go through the official channel -- Inland Revenue Board -- to check their eligibility for the cash aid (archived link).

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