Cyber crimes in Sabah are a cause for concern as there has been a steady increase in cases over the past three years, resulting in losses exceeding RM100mil, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He revealed that the state police have recorded a total of 4,687 scam cases between 2020 and September 2023, including phone scams, love scams, non-existent loan schemes, bogus investments, and online trading.
During the National Anti-Scam roadshow in Kota Kinabalu, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya delivered Hajiji’s speech, where he highlighted the statistics: 1,069 cyber crimes in 2020, 1,169 in 2021, 1,206 in 2022, and 1,243 from January to September this year.
To address this alarming trend, Hajiji stated the state government’s commitment to collaborating with federal and security agencies in combating cyber crimes.
He emphasized the importance of victims reporting their cases to the authorities promptly, enabling swift action to be taken. Accurate and timely information is vital not only for addressing the issue but also for analyzing criminal trends and developing solutions.
Hajiji emphasized the need for Malaysian authorities to work with international forces to exchange information and ideas in effectively dealing with the ever-evolving online scam crime.
Over the years, the losses from online scams have been substantial, surpassing RM24mil in 2020, RM25mil in 2021, RM21mil in 2022, and already exceeding RM28mil this year.
The most common types of online scams reported include online sales (1,823 cases), phone scams (1,122 cases), fake loans (817 cases), investments (603 cases), love scams (158 cases), and other computer crimes (164 cases).
Hajiji highlighted that scammers employ various tactics, such as impersonating police officials and security or enforcement agencies, to deceive their victims.
To combat this crime, the establishment of a National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and the refinement of laws to address current situations are underway, Hajiji stated.
He urged the public to be cautious of scammers’ tactics online and to verify information before engaging in any online transactions.
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