The rise in online scam has been a bane for both the public and the authorities, while scammers constantly find new ways to get their victims, stopping this modern crime method is becoming increasingly challenging.
According to the National Scam Response Centre Malaysia recorded losses of RM1.34 billion with 33,234 online crime cases, from January 1 to December 8 last year. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the losses involved six modus operandi, with investment scams recording the most losses at RM437 million, followed by e-commerce (RM383 million), telecommunications (RM334 million), e-finance (RM104 million), love scams (RM41 million) and non-existent loans (RM39 million).
“These figures show an increase. Compared with 2022, the recorded losses were RM804 million, but in 2023, this amount increased to RM1.34 billion,” she said.
This goes to show despite all the awareness campaigns launched to educate the public, the scam operators are steps ahead in coming up with new methods.
Bank Negara and Bukit Aman, have been reminding Malaysians on the various schemes devised by the scammers which have tell-tale signs, however one needs to be vigilant and intelligent to outwit the luring tactic executed by this tech criminals.
