ALOR STAR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) recorded an increase in public awareness about financial scamming judging from the number of telephone calls it received, compared to two years ago.
BNM deputy governor Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour said since 2016, the bank had recorded an increase in public inquires about scams and last year the number of inquires increase by about 90 per cent.
“In 2016 BNM received 4,316 calls inquiring about scams while last year the number increased to 7,716.
“More information on financial scamming is available on our website and anyone who encounters such scammer is advised to contact Bank Negara Malaysia LINK (BNMLINK) for information and advise,” he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of Kedah Financial Carnival 2018 here today.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Othman Aziz closed the carnival.
The carnival is the third held nationwide after Sabah and Sarawak, aimed at educating the public on financial management.
He said the three-day carnival held since Friday had attracted about 30,000 visitors including from Perlis, Penang and northern Perak.
Rasheed said the carnival in Kedah was targeting the B40 group and micro entrepreneurs who wanted to know about financial assistance to help improve their economy.
Earlier during the event, Rasheed and Othman witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between RHB Bank Berhad and Social Security Organisation (Socso) for online payment and collection services thorugh Perkeso Assist portal.
Meanwhile, nine-year-old Umar Hanif Mohd Hafisudin won the lucky draw grand prize held in conjunction with the carnival. The eldest of four siblings won RM5,000 in savings account from Public Bank Berhad.