Beware of Scams Related to RM100 SARA Cash Aid – Here’s How to Avoid Getting Scammed
The devil works hard, but scammers work harder.
It has been a week since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the one-off RM100 cash aid to all Malaysians under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) program, and already, we are seeing scams related to the aid popping up like wildfires.
So rampant are the scams that even Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has come out to warn citizens about fraudulent links related to the one-off RM100 cash aid. These links, she says, are intended to trick victims into providing personal details.
Image Source: BERNAMA
These circulated links can be deceptive, as they are often accompanied by posters that appear legitimate. Some scammers even go to the extent of incorporating official-looking elements, such as the Malaysia Madani logo and Bersama Malaysiaku logos, into the posters to feign authenticity.
Teo pointed out the BantuanNegara.com website as an example, which falsely claimed to provide official information about the RM100 SARA aid, all to trick users into submitting their personal details. The Ministry of Finance has since confirmed that the link is fake, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked the website entirely.
Image Source: Ministry of Finance (MoF) via X
In a vastly saturated digital world, it can be difficult to distinguish between fake and authentic sources. Those who are not as cognizant or lack digital literacy could easily fall prey to scam tactics, resulting in huge losses and breaches of privacy.
In light of the RM100 SARA cash aid, here are a few tips to ensure that the information you are receiving is legitimate.
1) There is NO NEED To APPLY for the cash aid
As confirmed by the Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JAPEN), an agency established under the Ministry of Communications, there is NO NEED to APPLY for the RM100 one-off SARA cash aid. The cash aid does not require citizens to fill out forms or submit personal details. As such, reject any link that claims you are required to submit banking details or other personal information to receive the aid.
According to JAPEN, the cash aid will be disbursed automatically to the MyKad of all citizens eligible for the aid. You can check your eligibility on MyKasih’s official portal starting 21st August 2025.
If you are reading this after the aid has been handed out but still cannot redeem it, chances are there may be something wrong with your MyKad. Based on steps published by JPN, here’s how to check if your MyKad is still fully functional, and how to replace your MyKad if needed.
Any link that claims you can receive the cash aid earlier or that you will be able to receive more money under the program is fake—unless confirmed by the government. Which leads to the next point…
2) Only read information from official government sources
The surefire way to ensure the information you are receiving is authentic is to follow official government platforms. That means verifying the information directly on the ministry’s website, and not just relying on what your WhatsApp or Telegram groups circulate.
For information related to SARA, we recommend following the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JAPEN), and Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia (KKM)
In English, these are the National Registration Department, Malaysian Information Department, and Ministry of Finance, respectively.
Alternatively, you can also follow malaysiamadani.gov.my for the latest news regarding subsidy initiatives and cash aid programs.
Be aware that URL links may sometimes sound official. Case in point: BantuanNegara.com, which turned out to be a scam website. As per Teo’s advice, one way to determine if a government website is legitimate is to look for ‘gov.my’ in the URL, where ‘gov’ stands for government. For example, penerangan.gov.my, jpn.gov.my/my/, and mof.gov.my/ms/
As highlighted earlier, even posters that seem legitimate may turn out to be fake, so always verify your sources.
Aside from websites, government agencies also use social media to disseminate information via their official platforms. For SARA-related information, we recommend following:
- Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JAPEN): Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook
- Jabatan Pendaftaran Malaysia (JPN): Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook
- Ministry of Finance (MoF): Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook
3) SARA cash aid is not linked to eWallet or Touch ‘n Go
One thing to note about the SARA cash aid is that it does not involve any e-wallet, not even Touch ‘n Go eWallet. While it’s true that government aids in the past were disbursed via e-wallets, the upcoming SARA cash aid does not require citizens to register for any e-wallet.
To reiterate, the RM100 cash aid will be allocated automatically to your MyKad and does not utilize the built-in Touch ‘n Go feature. As such, any claims that you need to install, update, renew, or top up your e-wallet are false.
To quote Teo, “The primary role of the MyKad in this programme is solely to verify the identity of recipients. It has no connection to any e-wallet platform, so there’s no need to worry if your MyKad isn’t linked to certain applications.”
4) Only believe information from trusted sources
If you are heavily reliant on chat apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram for information, it is wise to only digest information sent from trusted sources, such as well-informed family and friends.
Clicking on links that have been forwarded many times, or that are sent to groups with a large number of unknown recipients, should be avoided at all costs, as you risk falling prey to a malicious scam.
You are always advised to cross-check information with official government sources and platforms (see point 2) to be absolutely sure the message you received is authentic.
Overall, treat the digital landscape like an inhabited jungle, with many dangers lurking in the shadows. Unless you are equipped with the expertise and knowledge to navigate unfamiliar territory, always follow a guide (in this case, official sources) to ensure you are kept safe from harm.
Source: [1] Jabatan Peneragan Malaysia (JAPEN), [2] Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), [3] Malay Mail
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