ALOR STAR: Zurani Kamal almost didn't lodge a police report against a university student who allegedly conned her NGO into raising over RM1,000 for him.
The student claimed he needed the money to continue his studies and Zurani decided to help out until she realised he was a fraud.
The Cancer Survivors Malaysia chairman said she hesitated to expose the university student's deceit out of pity, and because he had threatened to take his own life if she did.
"I was worried and hesitated to file a police report because he was still studying," she told the New Straits Times.
It was only after she found out that she was not the first victim that she decided to lodge a police report.
The student, who is believed to have conned other organisations and people of over RM200,000, has since been arrested.
Criminologist Kamal Affandi Hashim said scam victims must lodge a police report to ensure justice is served.
He also said it was important because a lack of reports would only embolden perpetrators.
"Their confidence is boosted every time their victims fail to lodge their reports," he said.
Kamal said when a scammer is caught, they may threaten to harm their victims, witnesses and even themselves.
"By design, both are scare tactics to influence the decision which ultimately favours the perpetrator," he said, adding this was why victims must lodge police reports.
Universiti Sains Malaysia's Center for Policy Research criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy shared a similar view.
"All victims should consider filing a police report. This can help authorities track the scam and potentially prevent further incidents."
He said in the case of the university student, legal action which began with the police report against him, could serve as a deterrent to others.
He said while some people may have underlying issues such as compulsive behaviour or severe distress, the remedy lay in psychiatric treatment.
"This should not exempt him (suspect) from legal responsibility if his actions were intentional. Balancing accountability with compassion is crucial," he said.