To further protect Malaysians against financial scams, Google introduced new certification requirements for financial services advertisers targeting Malaysia.
The US tech firm said in a statement on Tuesday that this financial services verification (FSV) adds a new layer of security to the existing financial products and services policy by ensuring that only legitimate, licensed financial service providers can reach users in Malaysia.
It noted this comes at a critical time when financial scams are on the rise in Malaysia, with MYR 2.77 billion ($710 million) in losses from financial fraud in 2025 alone, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In an effort to address this, starting from April 14, 2026, select advertisers of financial products and services will be required to complete a verification process before they can run ads on Google’s platforms.
As part of the verification process, financial services advertisers will need to demonstrate that they are authorized by Malaysian authorities, such as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA), and have completed Google’s advertiser verification program in order to begin promoting their products and services.
FSV introduces a unique, structural layer of defense and directly supports the government’s fight against financial fraud.
It enforces local licensing standards at the point of advertising, effectively closing the loopholes that bad actors exploit to reach Malaysian citizens.
It is already available in other countries like the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia.
This means advertisers will be able to apply for verification through Google compliance partner, G2, starting March 10, 2026, and the enforcement will go into effect on April 14, 2026.
Besides, advertisers may initiate verification themselves.
Advertisers who provide or promote in-scope financial services must also successfully complete the updated verification process by the time enforcement begins in order to show financial services ads to Malaysian users.
This will include financial service advertisers, and non-financial services advertisers who are targeting users seeking financial services.
Advertisers that have not successfully completed the new verification process by April 14, 2026 will no longer be allowed to show financial services ads.
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to evade detection. That’s why we’re strengthening our defenses to ensure only authorized financial providers can reach users on Google,
“By partnering with authorities to enforce these stricter checks, we’re staying one step ahead of bad actors and giving Malaysians greater confidence when engaging with financial services online,” said Ben King, Country Managing Director, Google Malaysia.
Abdul Karim Fakir Ali, Managing Director of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), said the initiative is a critical step in preventing financial scams from reaching Malaysians.
“Tackling digital fraud requires a whole-of-ecosystem approach, where technology platforms, regulators, and the public all play a role,
“Verifying the legitimacy of financial advertisers is essential to our goal of ensuring a safe and trusted digital environment for all Malaysians,” he added.
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