KUCHING, Nov 12: Phone scams are getting sophisticated by the day but the modus operandi remains on exploiting ignorance victims through fear.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party Public Complaints Bureau (SUPP PCB) chief Wilfred Yap advised the public not to easily fall prey to such tactics.
It is important for the public to know that the primary objective of scam phone calls involved getting victims to transfer money or divulge personal confidential and sensitive information, he said.
“The scammers go through great lengths to appear convincing and can even go to the extent of spoofing the telephone numbers of enforcement agencies, like the police or court or banks.
“If any members of the public receive such suspicious phone calls, the person concerned should never disclose private and personal financial or banking details under any circumstances.
“Hang up and check with the relevant authorities or bank via their hotline number and not using the one provided by the scammer (caller),” he said in a statement.
He added that the victim should immediately lodge a police report as a precaution.
Yap gave this advice after a woman recently approached him, seeking advice after she received threatening and suspicious phone call from an unknown female caller who claimed to have called from Penang.
The complainant said she felt harassed and worried after receiving the call.
“According to the woman complainant, the unknown female individual making the phone call claimed that she represented a telecommunication company and alleged that the woman complainant owed them money for several phone lines registered under woman complainant’s name in Penang.
“The caller also said those phone lines were being used for illegal activities,” Yap said, while adding that the complainant has been advised to lodge a police report on the matter.
Yap said the public must look out for the basic warning sign of a scam phone call, whereby the enforcement authorities will never investigate by phone nor appoint a third party to acquire private, personal and sensitive information through the phone.
He added that financial institutions, including credit card issuers and Bank Negara Malaysia and all banking institutions, will never request personal banking information when contacting customers, be it via telephone calls, SMS or emails. — DayakDaily
