KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — Online fraud cases have risen by 36.9 per cent from January 1 until Monday, compared with the same period last year, with 2,328 cases recorded, resulting in losses of over RM19 million.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting director Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa said that in the same period last year, 1,700 cases were reported, resulting in losses of RM13.66 million.
“As the festive season approaches, online shopping will be a popular choice for many consumers. Therefore, police urge the public to remain vigilant when making purchases,” he said.
The public is advised to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, and to only conduct transactions through secure and reputable e-commerce platforms.
Rohaimi emphasised the importance of checking reviews from other buyers and verifying the seller’s account and phone numbers on the Semak Mule portal before making any payments.
Meanwhile, Rohaimi said his team had identified an online fraud syndicate that uses an e-commerce platform poster titled “Ramadan Bersama Shopee”.
He said the syndicate manipulated the poster by inserting the victim’s phone number as a contest winner.
“The victim is then contacted by the syndicate and instructed to activate their ‘shopeepaylater’ to claim a so-called prize, before being asked to scan a QR code,” he said.
“After scanning the QR code, the victim would discover that money had been deducted from their bank account. A police report has been lodged in Selangor, involving a loss of RM3,006.03, with the case being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said.
— Bernama
