JOHOR BARU: As the digital landscape evolves, fraudsters are updating their tactics, too.
The pig-butchering scam is a reminder that while technology can help bring people together, it also opens up new avenues for deception.
In Malaysia, many people have fallen victim to love scams via dating apps.
According to the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department's statistics, 13 victims lost a total of RM1,336,090 to this scam in 2022.
The number of victims rose to 28 the following year, marking RM2,969,505.84 in losses.
The number of victims of this scam dropped between Jan 1 and June 24 this year, with losses falling to RM646,890.42.
Checks by the New Straits Times found that Malaysians can access more than 80 dating apps catering to different preferences and needs.
Some of the dating apps are local-based, like My Jodoh, but they can also be accessed by people from outside the country.
Another dating app is Tantan, which is popular among the Chinese community in Malaysia and can connect Malaysians with people from other countries.
The app emphasises a straightforward matching process and has robust measures against fake profiles.
For the Muslim community, there is the Baituljannah platform for people seeking serious relationships. The app focuses on helping users find marriage partners within their faith.
The Indian community in Malaysia leans more towards dating websites aimed at Hindus looking for marriage.