Share This

Showing posts with label Scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scams. Show all posts

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Online scams becoming ‘silent killers’, police say

 

ACP Abdul Rozak (centre) launching the poster. With him are Teoh (right) and Hoe. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

THE growing menace of online scams have become impossible to ignore, with police describing them as “silent killers”, where the crimes not only drain victims financially but also leave lasting emotional scars and shatter livelihoods.

Investigation officer Inspector Muhammad Hyzreen Mohd Zain said such scams could wipe out victims’ savings and “subsequently destroy their lives.”

“Scams don’t just take your money, they destroy futures. They’re silent killers,” he said during his speech at Scam Awareness Talk + Say No to Scam campaign held at a mall in Farlim, Air Itam, Penang.

He said such crimes could also tarnish the reputation of enforcement agencies and erode public trust when victims mistakenly believe authorities failed to act.

He urged the public to practise digital vigilance to prevent falling prey to such schemes.

Insp Muhammad Hyzreen urges the public to practise digital vigilance.Insp Muhammad Hyzreen urges the public to practise digital vigilance.

Insp Muhammad Hyzreen stressed that many victims unknowingly allow scammers access to their financial information simply by downloading suspicious apps or clicking unverified links.

He advised the public to avoid sharing personal or banking information over the phone, even if the caller claimed to be from a government agency or financial institution.

He said scammers would often impersonate officials to gain trust and extract confidential data.

Insp Muhammad Hyzreen also reminded attendees to be wary of investment offers that promise unusually high returns.

“Always verify with Bank Negara or official sources before committing to any investment platform,” he said.

He encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity immediately to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, or contact the nearest police station for guidance.

The talk, organised as part of the campaign, aimed to educate the public on emerging fraud tactics and reinforce the importance of community vigilance in combating financial crime.

Organised by 30 Lions Clubs from Penang with collaboration from police, the event also saw the launch of the Call 997 poster.

Event organising chairman Teoh Shaw Jhee said the club had printed 2,000 copies of A2 posters which will be put up around Penang.

“The posters will be placed in public areas such as markets, schools, malls and high-rise buildings,” Teoh said in his speech.

Teoh said cyber and financial scam cases were now a threat to the public, and as such, it was important to raise awareness.

He said Lions Clubs could help police raise awareness of scams.

He said the posters was also to inform and educate the public on who to call if they faced the threat of scams in their daily life.

“Awareness is our first line of defence, calling 997 is the right way when you risk being scammed,” he added.

Present during the programme were George Town OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad, his deputy Supt Lee Swee Sake and District Governor Lions 308 B2 Don Hoe.

ACP Abdul Rozak, who launched the poster, praised Lions Clubs for organising the event and described the initiative as a noble effort.

“While we remain fully committed to combating corruption, success requires the collective support and cooperation of all stakeholders,” he said in his speech.

He advised the public not to be easily misled or duped by attractive offers from unknown individuals online.

Source link

Thursday, 29 May 2025

Don’t bite the scammers’ bait

 


PETALING JAYA: Staying alert and cautious about potentially deceptive online links is not just a matter of good practice; it is an essential defence against cunning scammers who aim to drain the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims.

Recently, scammers have exploited various forms of monetary and welfare aid offered online by the government, particularly targeting the lower-­income group by masking hyperlinks to deceive applicants.

Certified fraud examiner and anti-money laundering specialist Raymon Ram (pic) advises that being cautious of suspicious online links can help reduce the risk of online scams.

He said that in addition to emails, malicious links are now appearing across various channels, including short message services (SMS), WhatsApp or Telegram applications, social media posts and pop-up windows.

These links frequently disguise themselves as coming from reputable sources, including government agencies, banks and various service providers.

“Scammers have become skilled at making their links appear legitimate, but there are several red flags online users could look out for,” he said.

He said scammers often create websites that mimic real organisations by adding small typos or extra words to genuine website addresses to hoodwink their potential victims.

Raymon said users should check the core or root domain that comes before the top domain, like “dot com”, “dot gov”, or “dot my”, to make sure it matches the real one they want to use.

ALSO READ:

“Users should be aware that the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure protocol (HTTPS) does not assure safety, and neither does the padlock icon, as scammers can easily obtain these certificates.

“HTTPS alone does not prove a site’s legitimacy, as it simply means the data sent is encrypted,” said the founder and managing principal of Graymatter Forensic Advisory, a company that specialises in financial forensics.

He said scammers also insert messages that appear urgent or may emotionally trigger users to react and proceed without caution.

“Examples of such messages include phrases like ‘your account will be suspended’ or ‘claim your prize now’.

“Other indicators of potential scams are poor grammar, misspellings and generic greetings.

“Also, in contrast, legitimate organisations typically address individuals by their names and maintain a professional and formal tone.

CLICK TO ENLARGECLICK TO ENLARGE

“Users are also advised to preview or scrutinise links to ascertain their destinations before clicking on them.

“If users are unsure, it’s best to avoid such links and verify their authenticity with the institution they are trying to reach,” Raymon said.

Asked whether a single click on a scam link can result in the loss of someone’s bank account, he clarified that it typically requires multiple actions for users to lose their funds.

Raymon said there are three main pathways that lead to online theft, namely through phishing websites – where a user clicks a link and lands on a fake bank login page before providing their username, password and one-time code.

Scammers eventually use the details to access the real account and transfer money, he added.

He said another tactic is to embed malicious mobile applications such as APK files.

“A user clicks on a link that tells them to install an unofficial Android app.

“The app takes over the device and reads SMS messages, intercepts OTPs, or puts up fake banking screens to get login information.

“These programmes allow scammers to watch the user’s activities and capture sensitive information.

“Hence, it is not the first click itself that empties a bank account but a chain of actions that occurred earlier,” he said.

He said scammers also hide dangerous links to trick people, which is a common method used in phishing and other scams.

“Scammers may hide links in several different ways.

“One example would be putting up a button or text that says ‘Visit Bank Negara’, but a hidden link that takes people to a different website,” Raymon said.

Source link

Related posts:

Your first line of defence, tracking scams: National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), 997 hotline, National Fraud Portal (NFP), emakMule portal



Friday, 25 April 2025

UN sounds alarm on scam expansion


Scam clampdown: A file photo showing a general view of Shwe Kokko city, a casino, entertainment and tourism complex, from Thailand’s side of the border. — Reuters

Cyber crime syndicates that run multi-billion-dollar scam operations across South-East Asia are still expanding despite recent law enforcement crackdowns, building links from Ireland to Mexico and reaching a potentially irreversible global spillover, the United Nations warned. 

The transnational criminal networks are infiltrating and scaling up in other parts of the world, particularly in the Pacific region, Africa, South America and South Asia, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report published on Monday.

They use trafficked workers from dozens of countries and are largely based in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

The growth has been enabled by the rise of new, illicit online marketplaces, with such cryptocurrency-integrated platforms being used to launder money and connect illegal actors around the world, the agency said.

It noted that there are now “hundreds of large-scale scam operations conservatively generating tens of billions of dollars” in annual profits.

“The dispersal of these sophisticated criminal networks within areas of weakest governance has attracted new players, fuelled corruption, and enabled the industry to continue to scale,” the report said.

The spillover effect has seen criminal groups now “free to pick, choose, and move jurisdictions, operations, and value as needed, with the resulting situation rapidly outpacing the capacity of governments to contain it”.

Even as South-East Asian governments have stepped up crackdowns in recent months on scam compounds along shared land borders, the industrial-scale operations have simply adapted by moving to more remote locations within or beyond the region, or pivoting to online platforms. 

Another adaptation that has been noted across the region is the shift from land-based Internet connection to Starlink,” the report stated, referring to Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider.

That’s sometimes the result of operators moving to locations without online access or due to governments shutting down illegal cross-border connections, it added.

The UN agency estimated that countries in East and South-East Asia lost up to US$37bil to cyber fraud in 2023.

It said US authorities reported billions of dollars of losses the same year from crypto-related scams and “pig butchering” schemes, in which fraudsters gain the confidence of victims.

Crime syndicates in South-East Asia are also actively enhancing collaboration with other major criminal networks around the world, including South American drug cartels, the Italian mafia, and the Irish mob, according to the UN.

It cited the example of a network with Chinese links that helped Mexican drug cartels launder money and then resell those foreign currencies to overseas buyers within underground banking markets.

To scale the operations, the criminals also need hundreds of thousands of trafficked victims and complicit individuals to work in the scam compounds.

People from as many as 56 origin countries have been identified as victims in the UN report, with the majority constituting Asian and African nations.  — Bloomberg

... REPORTS. Femicides in 2023 · Submit to the 'My Voice matters in the Fight against Organized Crime' Zine · UNODC World Drug Report 2024. publications. Multimedia.
Missing: said ‎| Show results with: said


 

>

Saturday, 22 March 2025

Rm9bil lost to scams in 10 years

 

Over 200,000 online cases recorded with figures rising


Portal Semak Mule 2.0 bantu rakyat kesan identiti syarikat ..

Semak Mule - PDRM   

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 200,000 online scam cases have been recorded in the last 10 years, resulting in almost Rm9bil in losses.

And there could be many more cases that go unreported.

The number of cases has also been increasing every year. In 2014, there were 6,309 cases but last year, the number rose to 35,368, according to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) statistics.

“More and more victims are being duped by a myriad number of scams used by syndicates. This year alone, we have already recorded 10,218 cases as of March 16,” the police said.

In terms of losses, the amount was Rm8.53bil since 2014, with the highest losses recorded in 2023 (Rm1.21bil) and 2024 (Rm1.57bil).

This year, as of March 16, Rm490mil in losses had already been recorded.

Investment scams have been the most prevalent in the last 10 years, accumulating significant losses, especially in the last two years.

In 2014, the losses in such scams were Rm53.4mil, rising to Rm245.05mil in 2021 and Rm219.83mil in 2022.

In 2023 and 2024, though, losses spiked to Rm472.15mil and Rm848.62mil respectively.

“This year, Rm301.8mil has been lost to investment scams, the highest number compared with other scams. However, in terms of the number of cases, telecommunication scams were the highest this year, with 4,509 cases.

“Others are online purchase scams (2,118 cases), investment scams (1,652) and loan scams (1,159),” the police said.

The public is advised to make use of the Semakmule 2.0 portal.

The portal has received 33.4 million visitors since it was established in 2020 and the people are encouraged to use the facility to check the list of mule bank accounts, telephone numbers and shell firms used by scammers.

“Initially, the police set out to list phone numbers and mule bank accounts, but have since improved the portal to include the names of shell companies.

“Visitors to the site are able to do searches on companies that might be used in commercial crimes, including investment scams. The portal has listed more than 107 companies so far,” the police said.

As of Jan 21, a total of 238,006 bank accounts and 191,960 phone numbers have been listed on Semakmule.

Another avenue that can be used is the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).

The public can report scams by calling the 997 hotline and make enquiries too.

- by By FARIK ZOLKEPLI farik@thestar.com.my 22 Mar 2025

Semak Mule 2.0 portal to help identify the identity of ...




Related posts:


Thursday, 5 December 2024

Banks may pay the price for scams if negligent

">Hefty sum: Anwar said RM1.224bil in losses to online scams were recorded between January and October this year.

New law mulled to enforce liability for scams if negligent

PETALING JAYA: Banks may soon be held responsible for losses suffered by online scam victims if the losses are due to the banks’ negligence or disregard of regulations.

This may be among the provisions under the proposed Online Safety Bill that aims to combat online bullying, fraud and other cybercrimes.

“The law is likely to be tabled during the Parliament session next year,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The Prime Minister said laws have to be tightened to better protect people against the growing threat of online scams that have cost Malaysians billions of ringgit.

“There are victims who are oblivious (that they are being scammed). That is why we need to tighten the laws,” he told Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman).

Doris had wanted to know if there are plans to enact specific laws such as Singapore’s Scam Bill to better protect Malaysians against online scammers.

Anwar said he agreed in principle to a suggestion by Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) on making banks responsible for losses suffered by the victims.

Nurul Amin said such a move was implemented recently in the United Kingdom where victims were reimbursed within five working days.

Anwar said the regulation in the United Kingdom only came into play if the banks were found to be negligent or had failed to monitor the accounts according to regulations.The Prime Minister also commended the ongoing joint efforts by the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) with relevant enforcement agencies in thwarting online scams.

“A total of RM19mil would have vanished if the scams had not been successfully blocked,” he said.

Since its formation in October 2022, the NSRC has seized RM6mil and recorded 140,474 complaints involving 69,000 scams.

The centre, under the Prime Minister’s Department, works with the police, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Bank Negara Malaysia, the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre as well as financial institutions and the telecommunications industry to tackle online scams.

Earlier, Anwar expressed concern over the volume of losses due to online scams.

“Overall, such scams resulted in RM286.2bil in losses in Asean while RM1.224bil in losses were recorded between January and October this year in Malaysia,” he told Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai).

“This includes online scams, telecommunication scams, e-trading scams, e-financing scams, love scams, non-existent loans and online investment scams,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the number of mule accounts being used for such scams is also alarming.

“Although Semak Mule has been successful, the figures are still worrying.

“As of Oct 31, a total of 181,628 telephone numbers, 222,092 bank accounts and 1,395 companies were recorded in Semak Mule for being involved in online scams,” he said.

The Semak Mule online application and website was launched in January 2019 to identify accounts used by scammers and assist members of the public.

“Some 32,066,000 searches were made with 22,200,984 responses being positive. This means there were attempts to transfer money to mule accounts, but many were thwarted due to the use of the portal,” he said.

Other preventive efforts, Anwar said, included blocking 1.4 billion dubious phone calls and 1.2 billion unsolicited SMSes.

“The Communications Ministry, through the MCMC, has also successfully terminated 118,184 phones lines while blocking access to 9,474 fake websites,” he added.

Source link

Related stories:

‘No more soft approach for errant institutions’

Bukit Aman: Consumers must play part to avoid being duped

UK’s law to protect victims of APP scams

Related posts:

DIGITAL WAVE of deception