By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 3: A 71-year-old senior citizen from Kuching lost RM40,000 after falling victim to a Facebook scam offering 10 cans of branded milk powder for RM440.
According to Sarawak United People’s Party Public Complaints Bureau (SUPP PCB) chief Milton Fo, the victim came across an advertisement on Facebook offering what appeared to be a well-known brand of milk powder at a heavily discounted price.
After contacting the purported seller through WhatsApp, the victim was instructed to click on a link provided by the “customer service” representative.
“After clicking the link as instructed, the victim’s phone completely went ‘blackout’. It is believed that the phone device was hacked,” he said in a statement today.
He said two of the victim’s bank accounts were subsequently accessed and unauthorised online transfers amounting to RM40,000 were made.
The incident occurred at the victim’s residence in Kuching on Aug 25, while a police report was lodged the following day.
Foo said the case was another example of scammers exploiting social media advertisements and senior citizens’ interest in purchasing health-related products.
“This is not the first case involving fake Facebook ads selling branded milk powder. Scammers are exploiting senior citizens’ intention to buy health supplements.
“They use ‘too good to be true’ prices as bait, and then send phishing links to steal banking details,” he said.
Foo urged Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to step up measures against phishing-link scams and online financial fraud.
He called on BNM to direct banks to strengthen their online security systems, questioning how a single malicious link could allegedly result in unauthorised access involving two separate bank accounts.
“Banks have an uncompromising responsibility to safeguard depositors’ money,” he said.
Foo also urged MCMC to take immediate action to block and remove fake Facebook pages and phishing links used to promote scam advertisements.
He questioned how scam syndicates could continue using local telephone numbers and local bank accounts to operate advertisements and communicate with victims.
He further called on PDRM to intensify investigations into scams involving multiple platforms and bank accounts.
He also urged the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 to maintain round-the-clock assistance for scam victims so that accounts can be frozen as quickly as possible to minimise further losses.
Foo advised members of the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering heavily discounted health supplements and other branded products advertised on social media.
“Do not click on suspicious links or disclose TACs, OTPs or banking information when requested by purported sellers. For any online purchase involving money transactions, please only use official pharmacies, official brand websites, or reputable e-commerce platforms.
“BNM must regulate. MCMC must block. Banks must secure online transactions. The people’s hard-earned money must not be stolen like this anymore,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
