Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is committed to working together with the Federal Government and other related agencies to tackle cyber crime, particularly financial fraud and scams, which continue to show a significant increase in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said based on statistics from the Sabah Commercial Crime Investigation Department, the number of cyber crime cases in Sabah showed an increasing trend in the last three years.
He said from 2020 to September 2023, a total of 4,687 cases were reported, involving various types of offences such as phone scam, love scam, non-existent loan, investment, online purchase and computer crime, which caused losses amounting to RM100,087,125.10.
“Of the 4,687 cases, a total of 1,069 were reported to have occurred in 2020, 1,169 in 2021, 1,206 in 2022 and 1,243 cases as of January to September this year.
“During that period, online purchase fraud recorded the highest number of cases with a total of 1,823 cases, followed by phone scams (1,122 cases), non-existent loans (817 cases), investments (603 cases), love scams (158 cases) and offences under the Computer Crime Act (164 cases),” he said at the opening ceremony of the 2023 State-level National Anti-Scam Roadshow at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Saturday.
Hajiji’s text speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III cum Public Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Hajiji said cyber crime and offences under the Computer Crime Act in Sabah have caused victims to suffer losses amounting to RM24,885,763.50 in 2020, while for 2021 it is as much as RM25,427,844.42 and RM21,749,610.61 in 2022.
Throughout the months of January to September this year, a total of RM28,023,906.57 losses were recorded, he said.
“This amount is quite worrying. Therefore, I urge the people of Sabah, especially Internet users, to come forward and lodge reports related to online scams and fraud.
“The reports are very important to help the authorities analyse the trend of criminals, including scammers, as well as develop appropriate preventive measures to protect the public from becoming victims,” he said.
Hajiji said banking institutions, law enforcement and security agencies should continue to work together to deal with the issue by enforcing the law and coming up with more effective policies and regulations, international cooperation to establish relationships for information sharing, as well as investing in new technologies to quickly and effectively detect and prevent online fraud.
“Various initiatives are set in motion to combat online scams and fraud by the Government, agencies and departments, corporate companies and non-governmental organisations.
“Among them is the establishment of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
“While some existing legal provisions may need to be amended, including the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001, the Penal Code, the Procedural Code Crime and others to suit the needs and challenges of today,” he said.
According to him, while the Government actively tries to raise awareness to educate users about threats and cyber attacks, there are still many Internet users who are deceived and easily swayed by scammers who play with the victims’ emotions.
“Every day some of our citizens become victims of scammers. Scam crimes grow like mushrooms, there are those who pretend to be police officers, Inland Revenue Board (IRB) officers, court personnel, Customs Department officers, bank officers and many other ways to deceive victims,” he said.
Hajiji said online crimes in Sabah showed a significant and worrying trend of increase.
“Therefore, don’t be easily fooled by persuasions that offer lucrative returns in a short period of time. Research first if something is offered.
“Most importantly, all personal information should not be easily shared with strangers, what more if it is only through a phone call.
“I hope the programme can provide more knowledge to the people of Sabah in protecting themselves from financial fraud and cyber threats.
“This programme should also be extended across the State so that the people at the grassroots level can benefit and not become victims of cyber crime or scammers,” he said.
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