By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 16: Elderly victims are increasingly being targeted by scammers using artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic the voices and identities of people they know, including their own children.
According to a TVS news report, Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said advances in technology had made it easier for scammers to create convincing images, voices and videos to deceive victims.
“Such scams can sometimes be more devastating than robbery. Within just a few hours through a phone call, a person’s entire savings can be wiped out,” he said.
Speaking at the Preventive Talk on Scam organised by the Chinese Community Leaders Association (CCLA) Miri and Miri Senior Citizens Centre (PPWE Miri) here today, he said scammers were becoming increasingly professional in identifying their targets and choosing tactics suited to them.
Among the common methods are impersonating children or grandchildren, police officers, acquaintances and romantic partners met through social media.
“With advances in technology, they can use a person’s child’s image and voice to speak to the victim until the victim believes the call is genuinely from their child,” he said.
Lee urged members of the public not to immediately trust a caller simply because the voice or profile appears familiar.
Instead, anyone receiving an unexpected request for money should independently verify the caller’s identity by contacting the person through a known phone number or another trusted communication channel.
Victims should also avoid transferring money while still on the call, particularly when the caller creates a sense of urgency, threatens them or insists that the matter be kept secret from family members.
He said scammers could also use fake documents or police reports to make their claims appear legitimate, while instructing victims not to tell their families so the fraud would not be exposed.
“Police from other states will not randomly contact you to ask you to transfer money. If there is any official matter, it will be handled through official channels and the local authorities,” he said.
He advised those who receive suspicious calls or messages to pause and verify the information rather than allowing themselves to be pressured into making an immediate decision.
Lee also stressed the importance of family members and community leaders sharing information about emerging scam tactics with elderly people, who may be less familiar with AI-generated content and other forms of digital deception.
The talk was held to raise awareness of scam modus operandi among the Chinese community and elderly residents while equipping community leaders with information that could be passed on to their respective communities.
“Let us all remain vigilant and ensure that we do not become victims of scams. That is our objective,” he said. — DayakDaily
