GEORGE TOWN: Penang recorded 7,852 online crime cases between 2022 and 2024, with losses totalling RM312.86 million.
Phone scams accounted for the highest number of cases, with losses amounting to RM101.5 million.
Meanwhile, investment fraud showed the largest increase, with losses reaching RM126.8 million.
State deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said an average of seven scam cases were reported daily, last year, each involving average losses of RM36,164 per victim.
He said the prevalence of scams had become a growing concern in Malaysian society, with reports of individuals losing their life savings to fraudulent schemes.
He said from professionals to retirees, workers to young adults, everyone was at risk of falling prey to scammers.
“Online scams, including telecommunications fraud (phone scams), love scams, e-financial crimes, e-commerce fraud, fake loans, and non-existent investments, have all seen an increase in recent years.
“The trend of online scams, in terms of both the number of cases and the value of losses, is steadily increasing.
“These figures underscore the importance of initiatives like the Scam Awareness QR Code in tackling this growing issue.”
He said this at the official launch of the Penang police – Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Penang scam awareness QR code mini-app with infographics held at the Penang Golf Club in Bukit Jambul here today.
This collaborative effort is aimed at educating the public on how to recognise and prevent scams.
Present was MCPF Penang chairman Datuk Seri Ong Poh Eng.
Elaborating, Alwi said the victims comprised all segments of society including lecturers, teachers, factory workers and such.
“In most cases, they were taken in by the handsome returns from their investments,” he added
Meanwhile, on job scams, Alwi said there were 737 cases reported between 2022 and yesterday, with losses totalling RM22.569 million.
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