Online scams cost Malaysians over RM500mil in just three months
KUALA BERANG: Police recorded 12,110 cases of online fraud or scam throughout the country in the first three months of this year, involving losses of RM573.7 million.
Federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting director, Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa said the number of cases from January to March showed an increase compared to the last three months of last year, namely October to December, which recorded 10,715 cases involving losses of RM519.9 million.
"In Terengganu, 1,251 cases of online fraud with a loss value of RM35.7 million were recorded throughout 2024, compared to only 1,139 cases (loss value of RM24 million) throughout 2023," he told reporters after conducting a working visit to the Ajil police station, here today.
Rohaimi said online fraud crimes include telecommunications crimes, e-finance crimes, 'love scam', e-commerce crimes, non-existent loans, and non-existent investments.
He said the increase in these cases was due, among other things, to the rapid development of technology and the shift in today's lifestyle which is focused on the use of online applications.
In addition, he said the rapid development of information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) was also identified as a factor in the increase in online fraud cases.
"Criminals are now also taking advantage of technology such as fake digital identity generators, fake websites, automated chatboxes, and 'deepfake' technology to deceive victims.
"Generative AI also enables the creation of content that appears authentic and convincing, making it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent communications," he said.
He advised the public to take preventive measures, such as avoiding suspicious links received via SMS, WhatsApp or Telegram, and refraining from sharing banking details with unknown individuals.
– Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Syndicate using courier services to transport subsidised cooking oil busted
BUTTERWORTH: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has exposed a new tactic in misappropriating subsidised cooking oil packs using courier services following a raid on a warehouse in Kampung Sungai Puyu here today. Its Penang branch director S. Jegan said 14,380 packets of 1kg subsidised cooking oil packs were seized from the warehouse, along with a lorry and other documents, with a total value of RM204,500. "Preliminary investigations found that the wholesaler used courier services to send the packs in large quantities to an address in Perlis while the packs were brought to the courier warehouse in a lorry in deliveries of twice a month," he told reporters at a media conference at the location of the raid. A man, 60, who was the driver of the lorry was arrested after he failed to provide any license, permit or documents to conduct business, to store or use the controlled item. The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, he added. – Bernama
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: Survivor recounts being thrown out, body landing on him
GERIK: The tragic accident at Km53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik, that claimed the lives of 15 students from the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) must have left a traumatic impact on the survivors. One such survivor, Abdul Wafiy Kamarudin, 23, when sharing the harrowing moments with Bernama, said the accident had such a strong impact so much so he was flung out of the bus, and most terrifyingly, a victim's body landed on him. Abdul Wafiy, a sixth-semester student pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education, said he was looking at his mobile phone in the dimness of the night but could feel the bus was on moving quickly as it descended a winding, hilly road. "The bus driver stopped briefly to check the vehicle's brakes before continuing the journey, and suddenly at around 1am, the bus overturned, causing me to be thrown out of the window and into a drain. "The situation at that time was very I was shocked to find a body on top of me. "I was forced to push it off me to save myself," he said when met while collecting his personal belongings at the Gerik district police headquarters here today. However, the youngest among six siblings from Kampung Pak Kancil, Setiu in Terengganu is grateful because he only suffered minor injuries to his hands and face. Meanwhile, Mohd Zaki Ismail, the father to victim Rohadatul Aisy, 21, said his daughter contacted him at about 3am to say that she had been involved in an accident. "At that time, she (Rohadatul Aisy) said she was unable to move due to pain in both her neck and waist but a friend had helped carry her out of the bus. "I immediately left Kampung Gong Badang, Besut in Terengganu at 8 am and arrived at the Gerik Hospital to learn that my daughter suffered a fractured hip," he said. He also said that Rohadatul is receiving further treatment at the Besut Hospital, while he and his wife, Norliza Ghazali, are waiting to retrieve their child's personal belongings from the Gerik police headquarters. In the early morning incident yesterday, 15 UPSI students died when a chartered bus from Jertih to Tanjung Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza at JRTB near Tasik Banding. The accident also resulted in 33 others being injured, including the bus driver and conductor, as well as the driver and three passengers of the multi-purpose vehicle. – Bernama
Malaysiakini
7 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Security guards have no authority to demand, scan MyKad
Security guards do not have the authority or right to request, hold, or scan the identity card (MyKad) of the public, according to the National Registration Department (NRD). NRD in a statement to Bernama said only five categories of officers are allowed to do so under Regulation 7(1), National Registration Regulations 1990:
