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Showing posts with label mule account. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mule account. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 November 2024

rapped in cycle of scams, victims being retargeted over 2.5 times on average

 Low digital literacy blamed for Malaysia's high victamisation rates

Stay vigilant: Victims not learning from experience is among the factors contributing to them being revictimised.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has the highest rate of online fraud revictimisation in Asia, with victims being retargeted over 2.5 times on average, according to the Asia Scam Report 2024 issued by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance.

CelcomDigi head of sustainability Philip Ling said the report also revealed that Hong Kong and Thailand ranked second and third respectively.

“There are two concerns, namely victims being repeatedly targeted by scammers and their low ability to differentiate artificial intelligence scams.

“The victims don’t learn from experience. It is concerning when they fall victim again because they lack the ability to differentiate between sources ... when contacted by authorities, they often cannot tell whether the caller is real or fake,” he said, Bernama reported.

He said this to reporters after attending the Anti-Scam Engagement Session, “It’s a Matter of When”, at the Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute here, which saw the participation of over 100 staff from agencies under the Communications Ministry, including the Information Department, the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and RTM.

Ling said the event on Monday provided participants with an opportunity to share information and advocate against crime in a manner that is clearer and easier for the public to understand.

“We need to know that scam victims do not get an adequate support system from the people around them.

“They feel scared, ashamed and unsure of where to seek help,” he said.

One of the participants, Abdul Wahid Abdul Mutallib from Bernama, said that such programmes should be expanded, particularly to the community, as they provide valuable new information and knowledge.

“This kind of programme is very good because it can raise awareness among the public, especially as we are in the age of AI,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, another participant Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Kidin expressed hope that more programmes focused on online fraud awareness would be organised at the grassroots level.

“Through courses like this, participants are given exposure on how to ensure that all information is accurate before making any online transaction,” he said.

Earlier, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said online fraud is one of the government’s main focuses in addressing the rise in cybercrime cases, including online gambling, cyberbullying and sexual crimes against children.

In response to this, the government has decided to implement a regulatory or licensing framework for social media and internet messaging services, effective Jan 1 next year.

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Monday, 4 January 2021

Big Macau Scam ring busted

 

Syndicate invested in cryptocurrency worth more than RM336mil


JOHOR BARU: Police have crippled a major Macau Scam syndicate which used its ill-gotten gains to buy property and invest in cryptocurrency totalling more than RM336mil.

At least 12 suspects – nine men and three women – were arrested in a series of raids in Penang and Kuala Lumpur last month.

Among the suspects were company directors. 


Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay ( pic) said in Ops Pelican 2.0, police uncovered an intricate web of how the syndicate operated, including the identity of the mastermind, numerous mule accounts, fake companies and investments.

Victims who have been duped by the syndicate would first be told to transfer money into a mule account.

“The money is then channelled to another mule account belonging to another company,” he said, adding that all the mule accounts belonged to syndicate members and were designed not to leave a money trail.

Comm Ayob said the funds were then transferred to a property developer in Penang to purchase property and invest in Bitcoins.

“This modus operandi aimed to avoid detection from the authorities and was their way of money laundering,” he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters yesterday.

To date, police have found 91 mule accounts comprising 73 company bank accounts and 18 personal accounts.

“Since June last year, some RM25mil has been used to make progress payment for 100 condominium and commercial units in George Town,” he said.

Based on the Sale and Purchase Agreements, two companies are involved in property acquisition in 2015 totalling RM336mil.

Comm Ayob said the two companies belonged to the 55-year-old mastermind who has a criminal record. He is believed to have fled the country and is currently hiding in Thailand.

The man’s two sons are directors in the companies.

“Our investigations showed that some of the proxies and directors in the bogus companies are paid RM16,000 monthly,” he said.

The 12 suspects, aged between 29 and 68, have since been released on police bail.

Police are probing the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

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Here’s how Macau scammers conned Malaysians out of RM256mil this year

 Johor Coronation

 

Hello, Penang police calling ... Macau Scammers reap RM2.7mil 



How to outsmart smartphone scammers ?

You carry your smartphone everywhere. But the way you use it could leave you vulnerable to specific forms of identity theft, including robocall scams and hackers looking to hijack your phone number. — AP

Rightways