Government Grant Scam — Fake BRIM, STR & Bantuan Messages

Scammers are impersonating Malaysian government aid programmes — including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR, formerly BR1M), Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), and various state-level subsidies — to steal personal data and banking credentials. These scams surge during budget announcement periods and festive seasons when Malaysians expect legitimate aid disbursements.

The scams exploit the fact that millions of Malaysians rely on government financial assistance, creating a large pool of potential victims who are eager to receive their payments.

The most common method is SMS or WhatsApp messages claiming you are eligible for a government payout. The message includes a link to a fake government website that mimics the official portal's design. Victims are asked to enter their MyKad number, bank account details, and sometimes their online banking credentials to "verify eligibility" or "register for payment."

Some variants involve phone calls from scammers posing as government officers from LHDN, JKM, or the Prime Minister's Department. They claim your aid application has been approved but requires a "processing fee" or "tax payment" before disbursement.

A newer variant uses fake social media pages that post fabricated announcements about new aid programmes, directing users to registration forms that harvest personal data.

Does the government contact people via SMS about aid eligibility?

Official notifications are sent through the MySejahtera app, official government portals, or registered mail. Random SMS or WhatsApp messages about aid are almost certainly scams.

Will I need to pay a fee to receive government aid?

No. Legitimate Malaysian government assistance programmes never require processing fees, registration fees, or advance payments of any kind.