KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 51,631 online fraud cases were reported in Malaysia between 2019 and last year involving a total loss of RM1.61 billion, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Home Minister II Datuk Jonathan Yasin said online purchases contributed to the highest number of complaints with 18,857 cases, followed by non-existent loans at 15,546.
"Various efforts were carried out by the police to combat scam syndicates including beefing up law enforcement, operations, arrest and prosecution on those involved in fraud.
"The CCID Scam Response Centre (helpline) 03-2610 1559 was also established to allow the public to obtain information and validate calls for questionable transactions. The helpline is available from 9am to 10pm daily," he said in reply to a question by Su Keong Siong (PH-Kampar).
He said Cyber Crime Alert Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page was also created to give exposure on fraudulent investment scheme.
He said the police had also developed portal http://ccid.rmp.gov.my /semakmule to enable the public to check telephone and bank account numbers used by the syndicates.
He said 26,349 arrests were made between 2019 and last year, of which 16,029 charges were brought against the offenders.
Jonathan said police were carrying out studies and reviewing laws to ensure they remained relevant with the current situation and issues, as well as working with other agencies like Bank Negara Malaysia to curb the problem.
Apart from commercial crime prevention campaign, talks and dialogues with government staff private companies and non-governmental organisations (NGO) representatives were conducted periodically to discuss the issue, he said.
He said NGO like the Malaysia Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) and Malaysia IT Retailers Association had also been active in educating the public to protect themselves from falling victim to online fraud.
Mohamad Sabu (PH-Kota Raja) in emphasising the need to improve public awareness, said he was almost got duped by an individual who claimed to be a policeman.
"He called me and asked for money, saying that his mother was sick. I even intended to transfer some cash to the person.
"However, I remembered (fraud cases) and immediately checked with the OCPD (district police chief), who the person claimed to be working under and was told that the name given was not on the staff list," said Mohamad.