The state police chief of Johor, Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat, has warned that scammers can target anyone, including himself. He recently received a phone call from an individual who knew his cellphone number and home address. However, he promptly hung up when the caller mentioned connecting him to another ‘high ranking’ officer. Kamarul Zaman advises the public to be cautious and vigilant in dealing with such situations, as scammers employ various tactics to deceive people.
According to Kamarul Zaman, people should think rationally when they receive calls from unknown individuals who claim to be from the authorities. Scammers often pretend to be enforcement officers and inform the person of an offense, such as a traffic violation, before switching and alleging that they are under investigation for money laundering. Kamarul Zaman advises the public to use logic and recognize that traffic summons only involve a maximum fine of RM300 and cannot be connected to any other offense.
Kamarul Zaman also emphasizes that legitimate enforcement agencies, like the police, do not call each offender before connecting them to a high-ranking officer. This is a common scare tactic used by scammers. He further states that the public must remain cautious against various scamming tactics, including email scams. Scammers exploit technology to gather personal and sensitive information, leading to significant financial losses for unsuspecting victims. Therefore, individuals should always exercise caution when contacted by unknown individuals.
The police are working together with the state Education Department and Bank Negara Malaysia to raise awareness about scams. This initiative aims to educate the public about the rising number of scam cases in the state. The commercial crime department of the state police recorded 3,185 cases from January to September this year, an increase of 782 cases (a 32.5% rise) compared to the same period last year. Online scams account for the majority of these cases, making up 82.1%, while online purchases, phone scams, and non-existent investments or employment offers are among the specific types classified as online scams.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
