KUCHING: Stories of victims losing their life’s savings to scams don’t seem to make people any wiser.
It almost becomes a daily occurrence that some gullible soul will be telling the police she (apparently, most victims are women) has been cheated of cash by someone she has known through the social media. That’s now known as love scam.
Or, a victim comes to the police saying she has lost money in trying to avoid investigation by ‘investigator’ into supposed money laundering activities. This is Macau scam.
Sarawak Community Policing Association (SCPA) chairman Datuk John Lau Pang Heng said Sarawakians must stop being gullible and avoid dealing with those so-called officers over phone calls or in the social media.
Lau said they should instead go straight to the authorities concerned.
“Love scam has become a social concern in modern society. It was reported in the first quarter of 2019 that love scam victims have lost RM27,830,592 in Malaysia.
“In 2018, 1,709 love scam victims lost RM110,720,866 as compared to 2017, where 2,271 victims lost RM95,983,756. Love scam has become an increasing concern of the authority and our society.
“Based on my study, people in the age group of 31 to 40 are busy focusing on their career and have little time to meet potential suitors,” he said.
He added that scammers rely on social media like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to target their victims.
“The scammer has prepared scripts when talking with potential victims. Sometimes, they use technology to talk to their victims to lure these victims to fall for them.”
He advised the public to be extra careful when using the social media to befriend someone whom they have never met face to face.
“Personally, yesterday, I received a call from a foreign registered phone. The caller told me that I have registered for a profit venture business in their website.
“Knowing it was strange and I have never registered myself in any online profit business, I asked the caller, is this a scam? The caller immediately cut the phone,” he said.
Besides love scam, many have been scammed by people who presented themselves as an officer from a bank or the police.
“Scammers normally phone their potential victims, telling the victim that he or she has unpaid fine, tax or unpaid bills and that the authority is taking action against him or her.
“Please do not panic when you receive this type of calls. In a short moment, ask the caller for his or her name and his or her phone number.
“If they refuse to identify themselves, the possibility is that it is a scam call,” he warned.
Even if the caller gives his full information, Lau advised the people to tell the caller that they are busy and that they will call back shortly.
“Normally when you call back, the phone is not reachable, thus you know that it is a scam call.
“Nevertheless, SCPA advises the public not to return a call from any stranger, more so if you suspect the call to be from a scammer.
“Your best option is to lodge a police report. It is your duty to inform the police because you may be helping the gullible from becoming victims,” Lau added.
