By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 20: Anti-scam education must go beyond posters and slogans, given the continuing increase in cases, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.
In a recent statement, Kota Sentosa assemblyman, Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, said that public awareness on scams should reach people directly—be it schools, villages, housing estates and workplaces.
“Campaigns should reach people directly so that everyone understands how scams operate and how to protect themselves.
“This is especially important as scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting the public through online investment schemes, fake job advertisements, e-commerce fraud and impersonation of government or financial officers,” he said.
Additionally, he stressed that enforcement agencies should strengthen collaboration and communication with the public, especially through community-based education and digital awareness campaigns.
Yap noted that scammers are evolving rapidly, using new technology, fake websites and social media to deceive people, and added that enforcement agencies must adopt a proactive, preventive approach, as prevention is always better than cure and far more effective than acting only after victims have lost their hard-earned money.
He further urged greater coordination between the Sarawak Police Commercial Crime Unit, the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to detect and disrupt scam networks swiftly.
In addition, financial institutions and digital platforms play a critical role in protecting the public, and Yap emphasised that banks must strengthen fraud detection and verification systems, improve customer notification mechanisms and act promptly to freeze suspicious transactions.
“The public must stay vigilant and not be swayed by promises of easy profits. Scammers often prey on emotions and the desire for fast returns, and a moment of caution can prevent a lifetime of regret,” he advised.
Besides raising awareness, his service centre in Kota Sentosa will continue collaborating with enforcement authorities and community organisations to support victims and promote sustained anti-scam education across Sarawak. — DayakDaily
