New Scam : Silent Call. Beware.

[Gutted]

That ‘silent call’ could be a scam – Here’s why​

Staying vigilant is the most effective defence against this evolving scam.

By WAN AHMAD ATARMIZI

17 Nov 2025 12:25pm

SHAH ALAM - A new phone scam tactic, known as "silent calls", is increasingly targeting Malaysians.

Unlike typical scam calls, these calls appear completely silent when answered, but that silence is deliberate. Experts warned that answering such calls can make your number a target for further fraud.

What are silent calls?

Silent calls occur when a phone rings and upon answering, there is no voice or interaction from the caller. After a short period, the line is disconnected.

According to CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, these calls are designed to gather voice metadata and confirm whether the number is active.

"Even if silent, sometimes the call is recorded to identify background sounds or the user’s voice. If the victim answers, the number is added to a target list and may be sold or used for further fraud

"Typically, following a silent call, victims may receive SMS messages claiming their bank account will be suspended or urging them to contact a particular number. WhatsApp messages containing fake links or fraudulent job offers may also arrive.

"Scammers can even call back pretending to represent banks, courier companies, police, courts or government agencies. Sometimes the caller ID is spoofed to appear local," he said.

Why silent calls are a scam, not just a mistake

Not every silent call is malicious; some may be accidental. However, signs of suspicious calls include:

• Repeated silent calls from different numbers
• Long, unusual or foreign numbers
• Absence of normal background sounds

Scammers also use strange international numbers and call repeatedly. This differs from accidental calls, which are usually disconnected quickly.

Some victims may also receive follow-up calls pretending to be from banks, police or courts, which is another red flag.

How scammers exploit silent calls

CSM highlighted that these calls are the first step in a broader scam operation. Once a number is confirmed as active:

• It is added to target lists for future fraud or sold to other scam syndicates.
• Victims may receive SMS or WhatsApp messages urging urgent action, such as claiming bank accounts are frozen.
• Scammers may impersonate authorities or service providers in follow-up calls, increasing the likelihood of victims revealing sensitive information.

Netizens have shared their experiences on the X platform. User @Wsukri2 recounted, "Previously, I had never received any ‘silent calls’ from scammers. However, after I received an email about an interview for a government position, I suddenly began getting many of these calls. After some time, they stopped just as abruptly. It feels strange and it makes me wonder whether someone on the inside might be improperly sharing our phone numbers."

Another user, @kimietalib, explained, "This appears to be the initial stage of the scam, where scammers try to determine whether a phone number is active and in use. Once they confirm it, the next phase usually follows, with the victim receiving numerous calls from unknown numbers, sometimes as soon as the following day."

Meanwhile @pluxios opted for precautionary saying: "I always stay silent when I receive calls from unknown numbers because I am concerned that my voice could be exploited for scams involving artificial intelligence (AI). Scammers might use our voices to impersonate us and contact people we know through AI technology."

What you should do if you receive a silent call

The safest approach is to end the call immediately. Do not speak, do not leave the line open and do not reveal personal information.

If the call is important, the caller will try again, send SMS, WhatsApp or leave a voicemail.

Other recommended precautions include:

• Using smartphone call-blocking functions.
• Installing apps like Truecaller or Whoscall to identify potential spam numbers.
• Reporting suspicious numbers to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or your telecom provider.
• Avoiding sharing phone numbers on social media.
• Educating family members, especially the elderly and teenagers about scam tactics.
• Using separate numbers for personal and public purposes.
• Regularly monitoring financial and digital accounts.
• Verifying calls by contacting official organisations directly through their verified numbers.

Silent calls are not random or harmless. They are a deliberate tactic used by scammers to identify targets and plan further fraud. The safest response is to end the call immediately, avoid sharing personal information and report suspicious numbers.

Staying vigilant is the most effective defence against this evolving scam.