KUANTAN: Online scams comprised 1,184 of the total 1,455 commercial crime cases involving losses amounting to some RM69 million recorded by the Pahang police in the first eight months of this year.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the losses incurred due to the online fraud cases this year amounted to RM21 million.
"Commercial crime cases this year recorded a significant increase compared to the RM39 million recorded between January and August last year. The number of commercial crime cases in the first eight months of this year recorded a 10 per cent dip compared to the 1,585 reported last year.
"To keep the public on the alert about scam cases, various awareness programmes with the cooperation from the state Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department including exhibitions, talks and town hall sessions were organised at schools, higher learning institutions, government departments and agencies.
"Police will continue to step up crime prevention across the state and provide regular updates to the public on the latest modus operandi deployed by scam syndicates. Apart from conducting talks, police distribute pamphlets and share information on the scam cases," he said in his speech during the Pahang police contingent headquarters monthly assembly here today.
Last week, Yahaya said teachers across Pahang were duped RM1.2 million by scammers between January and July this year, which had resulted in RM59 million in losses.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/08/1098418/police-teachers...
Meanwhile, Yahaya said the Pahang police contingent opened 35 investigation papers concerning missing persons between January and August this year compared to 29 papers during the same period last year.
He said in cases where family members are suspected of being missing, the public should immediately try to contact the person on his or her mobile phone or get in touch with their close friends.
"They should then proceed to inspect the last location where the missing person was seen. If there are no signs of the person, then the family has to gather all the important details related to the missing individual and lodge a report at the nearest police station.
"All the details provided to the police will help the department conduct initial investigations and plan their strategy accordingly to track down the missing person," he said.