Firstly, it is important to define what is meant by a fraudster. A "scammer" is an individual or organization that takes advantage of other people through dishonest or deceptive means in order to make an unlawful profit. Typically, these earnings include substantial sums of ringgit currency. Phishing emails, text messages, social media, and phony phone calls are a few of the fraud techniques that are frequently employed.
Scammer Methods
Scammers most frequently utilize the "phishing" tactic as a means of deception in order to profit. Here, they impersonate banks, IT firms, government agencies, or other respectable organizations to send phony emails or texts. These messages ask for personal information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, and bank account details. The information given by the victim of fraud will be used by con artists to steal the victim's identity or money. They will utilize the information they gather to trick the victim into a specific goal, most likely obtaining money.
Apart from Phishing, some other scam tactics are as follows:
Telephone Calling Techniques:
This technique is usually associated with fraudulent delivery of goods and representatives from the LHDN (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri). The situation is like the following example:- The person is first contacted and placed in a "voice message", then told to speak to the relevant officer. From there, the scammer will ask for various personal information, especially the full name, ID card number, and address before taking the next step, such as asking to pay a fine with certain amounts.
TAC and SMS techniques:
This technique also uses the method of calling the victim to obtain the TAC security code in carrying out a process such as a purchase, especially when using a credit card or bank card. This fraud technique is also very popular and often happens to adults/elderly people because they are less sensitive and lack exposure to online fraud issues.
Fake Investment Scheme
In addition, there are also fake investment schemes that are growing from age to age where the fraud promises people high investment returns but only forces them to send money to them without ever investing it. After all, investment schemes with various names only aim to deceive consumers without promising real returns. Based on information from Berita Harian dated 26 May 2023, SC blocked 61 websites suspected of fake investment. Based on the explanation, BAYAN LEPAS: The Securities Commission (SC) added 84 entities to its investor warning list and blocked 61 websites suspected of committing investment fraud in the first four months of this year. Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin, said the SC also blocked 80 social media accounts with the modus operandi commonly used by 'scammers', which is to promote fake investment schemes through WhatsApp and Telegram.
Mode of Operandi
There are cases where a person is invited on the Telegram social site and is included in the "Trading Group". The group gives various false pictures and promises that most of the group members are just "Fake Accounts" to gain trust from the victims that the investment made will provide multiple profits. The usual investment package that is promised is :- when you invest RM200 you will get a return of up to RM2000, while an investment with only a capital of RM800 will get you a return of up to thousands of ringgit.
When the victim has already transferred money to a certain account called a "donkey account", this scammer will give 1001 reasons to make the victim continue to transfer a lot of money into the donkey account. Among the reasons given is that the victim needs to upgrade the account to a Gold Account to get a refund, and other reasons such as the victim having to pay for registration for the first time. For these various reasons, victims will continue to make money transfers in the hope that they will succeed in getting a return that has been invested.
A Reminder To The Public
All users out there need to be aware and alert that with the increasingly challenging economic problems, there will be many parties who try to take advantage of getting money in an easy way. Users should also be reminded that they should never share important information such as Full Name with Bin/Binti, Identity Card Number, Telephone Number, and Complete Home Address to avoid the disclosure of personal information.
In addition, users should also be reminded that important administrations such as Law Firms will not call someone if they are involved in a legal problem, instead they will be sent via email or letter. There are some cases where the victim is phoned by the judicial department as one way to intimidate the victim in the fraud syndicate.
Better Becareful Than Be A Victim
In order to prevent you from becoming the next victim, you can do the following steps.
First, you need to call the relevant bank to report the fraud case. Next, you can make a police report in the Area you have been scammed. For example, if you live in Ampang but you have been a victim of fraud in Ara Damansara, you must report your case at the nearest Police Station in Ara Damansara, not in Ampang. The first report needs to be done in the area you were scammed.
Next, you can check through the bank account number on this link to ensure that the bank number used is not "Donkey Account" but a real user. Through the same link you can also check whether the phone number is a 'scammer' phone number or vice versa. You can also see more information through this link.
Never get caught and become a victim of online scams!
Be careful before you get hit, be alert before you regret it!
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