KUCHING: The Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) has urged Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to set up a dedicated support system that includes counselling and mental health assistance to aid scam victims.
This is in addition to the existing National Scam Response Centre (997) led by Bank Negara Malaysia.
“I strongly urge BNM to establish a robust support system to assist scam victims in their recovery, providing not only financial guidance but also mental health support to address the emotional toll inflicted by scam crimes,” said Michael Kong, the special assistant to the Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, in a statement today.
Citing an incident, he claimed he had recently received a distressing message from one Mr Low of Selangor, who was a scam victim.
“Mr Low received an anonymous phone call from an individual claiming to be a police officer, accusing him of involvement in a drug trafficking case.
“The scammer then demanded that Mr Low provide real-time updates on his daily activities and whereabouts to the police. Eventually, the scammer directed him to a fake BNM website where he was coerced into providing his personal details, including his bank account information.
“Tragically, within hours, Mr Low discovered that all his funds, totalling RM38,000, had been fraudulently withdrawn,” he said.
Despite filing police reports and complaints with his bank, Kong said the latter was unable to recover his hard-earned money.
“This incident has had a profound impact on Mr Low’s mental well-being, leading to depression and even thoughts of suicide. He contacted me because he wanted his experience to serve as a cautionary tale for the public,” he said.
Kong highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant, particularly when receiving unsolicited calls or communications.
“It is crucial that we exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of such calls by contacting the police and consulting trusted legal professionals before disclosing any personal or financial information.
“Additionally, I encourage the public to remain vigilant, stay informed about the latest scam tactics, and take proactive steps to protect oneself from falling victim to fraudulent schemes,” he said.
