Cybercrime losses in Melaka hit RM11.78 million in two months, a sharp rise from last year, as authorities ramp up public awareness campaigns
MELAKA: Cybercrime losses in Melaka surged to RM11.78 million in the first two months of this year. This marks a significant increase from the RM9.06 million lost in the same period last year.
The number of cases also rose to 591, up from 398 a year earlier. State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communication Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan attributed the rise to low public awareness.
He said the most common cases involve online purchase scams, love scams and non-existent investment schemes. Victims have included single mothers and civil servants.
“Last year we encouraged Melaka residents to make payments through cash on delivery to avoid being cheated when making online purchases,” he told reporters.
Fairul Nizam spoke after attending the Safe Internet Campaign 2.0 at the MITC Ayer Keroh Ramadan Bazaar. The state government has allocated RM50,000 this year for awareness programmes through the Melaka Taskforce on Online Gambling, Internet Fraud and Cybercrime.
The initiative aims to raise awareness on responsible internet use and monitoring children’s online activities. About 200 community programmes will be organised this year involving higher education institutions, NGOs and associations.
“Last year, the Safe Internet Campaign involved more than 12,200 students from 320 schools,” he said. It also reached 11,300 members of the public through 37 community programmes.
During the campaign launch, about 500 Ramadan kits containing internet safety guides were distributed. A booth provided interactive cyber safety sessions and demonstrations on activating parental controls.
