Sarawakians lost RM77.7mil to scams in seven months
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the increase is in tandem with the rise in commercial crimes.
In the first seven months of the year, 2,256 cases were recorded compared to 1,398 cases in the same period last year, a 61 per cent increase.
"If this trend continues, losses from scams could hit RM100 million by the end of the year. This is worrying," he said at a press conference at the Sarawak police headquarters today.
Mancha said scammers were using more complex tactics, including the use of false receipts to demand money from businesses.
Most of the victims were aged 30 to 40, followed by those aged 18 to 29 and senior citizens.
He added that most people fall victim to scams because they are unaware of the scammers' modus operandi, want to make a quick profit, or panic when contacted by scammers posing as enforcement authorities.
So far, 867 scam suspects have been arrested, with 834 charged in court.
"The number of mule accounts detected has also increased from 639 last year to 832 this year," he said.
He added that the police's biggest bust was raids on three call centres used by syndicates in Miri and Sibu.
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