By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Oct 25: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Public Complaint Bureau (PBC) chief Milton Foo has urged the Ministry of Communications to leverage the RM2.55 billion allocation announced in Budget 2025 to combat the surge in tele-scams across Malaysia.
Foo highlighted that tele-scammers have been exploiting regulatory gaps to acquire unmonitored phone numbers and mule accounts, leaving citizens vulnerable to fraud.
The recent case Foo addressed involved a young local businesswoman who was lured into a fake loan scheme through a Facebook advertisement promising ‘easy loan approvals’.
“On Oct 20, the victim came across a Facebook loan ad and clicked the link, which led her to a form requesting personal details and the loan amount. She filled it out and, on Oct 21, received a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be the loan company’s customer service representative.
“He asked her to send her IC (identity card), bank statement, pay slip, and a selfie holding her IC, which she complied with, sending everything to him. By 7pm, the scammer messaged her, saying her RM50,000 loan was approved and requesting her bank account and four family members’ contact numbers.
“She provided them (the details), but later, the scammer called, stating she needed to transfer RM2,000 for credit verification, promising a refund of RM3,000. Becoming suspicious, she cancelled the loan,” he told reporters at a press conference today at a tea shop here.
However, on Oct 22, Foo mentioned that the scammer persisted, urging the victim to proceed, claiming her loan was ‘approved’.
“Then, on Oct 23, he sent her a Maybank transfer slip showing RM100 deposited into her account, even though she had already rejected the loan. He then claimed she owed RM2,900 in cancellation fees and threatened to release her personal information if she didn’t pay,” he said.
Adding a personal angle to the issue, Foo shared that he confronted the scammer to protect the victim, only to be met with hostility and threats.
Despite his number not being publicly available, the scammer managed to access his private contact information, even harassing his wife with unknown calls.
“These criminals fear nothing,” Foo stated. “They threatened to burn down my law firm simply because I was helping this woman. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been threatened by scammers. It’s an indicator of how emboldened these individuals feel due to a lack of stringent laws.”
He remained resolute in his stance, vowing to expose the illegal activities of scam syndicates despite the threats.
He also encouraged the public to report similar incidents to the police and never yield to intimidation.
Reflecting on cases he has managed over recent years, Foo observed that online loan scams typically operate via international networks to bypass legal scrutiny.
While tracing these calls poses challenges, he expressed confidence that modern technology, combined with the Ministry of Defence’s support, could pinpoint the perpetrators’ locations.
He reminded the public to stay vigilant when dealing with online loan offers, unfamiliar calls, or texts requesting personal information, advising against clicking unknown links or sharing sensitive information.
Additionally, Foo urged Bank Negara Malaysia to fortify security within online banking systems to prevent scammers from exploiting online transfer mechanisms.
Emphasising the nation’s duty to combat these crimes, he called for unwavering support from law enforcement, government bodies, and the public to fight against scams that threaten societal well-being.
By raising awareness, Foo hopes his statement will spur heightened regulatory attention to curb the rise of online scams and better protect citizens’ rights.
He appealed for swift action from all relevant agencies to build a safer network environment for society. — DayakDaily
