MIRI, Nov 22: Miri has witnessed a significant surge in cybercrime cases, recording 344 incidents in the first 10 months of this year, compared to 289 cases during the same period last year, marking a 19.03 per cent increase, according to Miri OCPD ACP Alexson Naga Chabu.
Addressing the monthly assembly at Miri Police Headquarters, ACP Alexson emphasised that despite police efforts to raise public awareness about cybercrime, the situation has worsened.
“Scammers easily target the public due to their excitement about opportunities that promise high returns,” he warned.
To combat the rising threat, ACP Alexson urged the public to exercise vigilance, especially with unfamiliar calls.
He recommended the use of the ‘Whoscall’ app to help thwart scam activities.
Meanwhile, the overall crime index for Miri showed a decrease of 14 cases (232 cases) for the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period last year (246 cases).
The police chief also highlighted a significant increase in drug-related offenses, with 941 individuals detained for such offenses from January to October this year, reflecting a 33.5 per cent increase from the previous year’s figure of 730.
In terms of road safety, Miri reported a reduction in fatal accidents, with 36 cases from January to October this year compared to 44 cases during the same period last year.
However, the overall number of reported accidents increased by 8.5 per cent, totaling 3,000 cases for the first 10 months of this year compared to 2,775 cases in 2022. — DayakDaily
