By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 24: Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant against fake court documents, as scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to intimidate victims and trick them into revealing personal information or making payments.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Michael Kong issued the warning after a DAP member recently received a document through registered post that falsely claimed to be a “Judgment in Default” issued by the court.
Kong said the recipient, who was unfamiliar with legal documents, was understandably alarmed and sought his assistance after receiving the purported court notice.
“Upon examining the document, I immediately informed him that it was a fake court document and that he should ignore the purported demand,” he said in a statement today.
He said several signs of forgery were identified upon inspection of the document.
One of the red flags was that the alleged plaintiff was listed as a law firm together with a company registration number.
Kong explained that law firms in Malaysia are registered under the Malaysian Bar, the Law Society of Sabah, or the Advocates Association of Sarawak, and do not carry company registration numbers.
“A quick online search revealed that the company number actually belongs to a different company altogether,” he said.
He added that the telephone number printed on the document was also suspicious, as it did not match the contact details of the purported law firm listed in the Malaysian Bar’s legal directory.
“The number was most likely a phishing contact intended to lure unsuspecting victims into communicating with scammers,” he said.
Kong said the serial number on the document was another indication that it was fraudulent, as genuine court documents contain serial or verification codes that can be checked through the court’s online system.
“When entered, the code from this document was flagged as invalid, confirming that it was fake,” he said.
According to Kong, the incident highlighted how scammers were becoming more creative and daring by exploiting people’s fear and anxiety, particularly through the use of legal threats.
“These scams are designed to intimidate and pressure people into revealing personal information or making payments,” he said.
He advised members of the public who receive suspicious court documents or legal correspondence not to panic or respond to any contact details provided in the documents.
“Instead, consult a lawyer or seek verification from the nearest court registry to confirm the authenticity of the documents,” he said.
Kong reminded the public to remain cautious and help protect themselves and their families from falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams. — DayakDaily
