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KUCHING, Aug 24: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaint Bureau chief Milton Foo has questioned whether or not the public should go back to using wired phones from the 80s and 90s to reduce personal data leakage, given the proliferation of telecommunication fraud techniques.
In a press statement issued today, Foo stated that he received an SMS from an unknown private number (011-64318627) which says “HLB: Thank you using your card xxxx with MYR3019.00 at TNG-EWALLET, For any enq contact 0333100144.”
He mentioned that he has received at least 20 complaints from the general public about receiving identical text messages, subsequent to his Facebook post.
“What everyone has in common is that the text messages are sent from private mobile phone numbers, dial a 03-phone number for consultation, and if the call is connected, the other party pretends to be a bank employee to further confirm the caller’s bank account information,” he said.
Foo also reminded the general public to expose the scams of fraudulent groups that use text messages (SMS) as bait.
“First, the bank will never send a SMS or WhatsApp messages to bank customers using a private mobile number.
“Second, after receiving a text message from an unknown private number, you should never call the number provided to inquire.
“Third, if you are truly concerned, use another mobile phone to contact the relevant bank’s customer service centre for advice. If it is a credit card, call the number on the back; if it is an online bank transfer, call the branch where the bank account was opened.”
He advised against calling the phone number provided in the text message, unless one has actually made an online bank transfer.
“I really don’t understand why Malaysian citizens’ personal confidential information, including mobile phone numbers, fell into the hands of fraudulent groups so easily.
“Where did the problem occur? Is it a government agency, a telecommunications company, a bank, or a business, etc? Are there suspicions of leaks? Nowadays, everyone is in danger. Telecommunications and Internet fraud are everywhere and happen almost every day.
“Does our country require citizens to return to the wired telephone 082 in the 80s and 90s in order to reduce and eliminate the leakage of personal information?” he remarked. — DayakDaily
