BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  The Rising Threat of Financial Phishing in Southeast Asia

The Rising Threat of Financial Phishing in Southeast Asia

Murugason R. Thangaratnam, Co-Founder and CEO, Novem CS

12-Mar-25 12:00

The Rising Threat of Financial Phishing in Southeast Asia

Financial phishing scams are rising fast, with over 500,000 attacks targeting businesses in Southeast Asia last year, as reported by Kaspersky. AI is making these scams more convincing than ever, from deepfake emails to fake payment websites that are nearly impossible to tell apart from the real thing. As cybercriminals get smarter, companies, especially SMEs, are struggling to keep up. So what can businesses do to protect themselves?

Murugason R. Thangaratnam, Co-Founder and CEO of Novem CS, and Adjunct Professor at the University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering, joins us to explain why Southeast Asia is such a hotspot for these attacks, the biggest cybersecurity mistakes businesses make, and the practical steps they can take to stay ahead. We also discuss whether existing laws and regulations are enough and how businesses, governments, and cybersecurity firms can work together to tackle this growing threat.

Produced by: Carol Wong

Presented by: Richard Bradbury


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologyCorporatesinternationalSME

Tags:  financial phishingai-driven phishing attackscybersecurity measuresscamsdeepfakecyber resilience





Play / Pause

Listen now : Top 5 at 5

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Michael Chang, Head of Investments, Eastspring Investments Bhd gives us an outlook on Asian equities.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Delren Douglas, President of AGECOPE talks about the new Elderly Action Plan 2026–2030.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2025 shares his views on navigating Southeast Asia’s economic uncertainty.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Andrew Chan of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association discusses Budget 2026 expectations.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Benjamin Barton of the University of Nottingham Malaysia discusses UK-India bilateral relations.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Siew Yuen Tuck, co-founder of Ringgitplus talks about some findings from RMFLS 2025.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Umar Abdul Aziz, Co-Founder, Mokky’s Pizza, shares his journey from a humble roadside stall to five thriving outlets in just three years.

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Jan Wong, Founder, Open Minds, on Malaysia’s Martech Digital Edge.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah & Ng Sai Kit share expectations/wishlist from tech startup & semicon ecosystem ahead of Budget 2026.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

We speak to Dr Lee Hwok-Aun from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute about the good, the bad and the ugly of the government’s Budi95 fuel plan.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Caring for patients with serious or terminal illnesses is not an easy feat. We speak to a palliative care nurse about her profession and why the role of nurses is vital in palliative care.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday

What was a moment that made you first realise you were getting older? And how do you feel about ageing?

8:00 PM

BBC World Service

Why are some animals black and white in colour? This episode of Crowd Science dives deep to find the answers.