RM4.3mil lost to online scams in Sandakan from January to April
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahsmon Bajah said online fraud continues to rise and has become one of the main crimes affecting victims from various backgrounds, including professionals, businessmen and retirees.
"For 2024, a total of 170 cases have been reported, with significantly higher losses amounting to RM23,062,232.60.
"The majority of victims were individuals aged between 31 and 50, with 61.11 per cent being men and 38.89 per cent women," he said in a media statement today.
He said police are taking the issue seriously and urged the public to be more cautious and not to carelessly provide bank account information to third parties.
"Providing a bank account to others, whether willingly or through deception, can result in a person becoming a mule account holder.
"Individuals convicted of this offence can be investigated under Section 424 of the Penal Code, which carries a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000, imprisonment of one to seven years, or both," he said.
Meanwhile, he said police will continue investigations and monitoring to prevent the crime from spreading further, and urged the public to always exercise caution when conducting online transactions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 minutes ago
- The Star
‘I never left Zayn Rayyan alone,' says mother
PETALING JAYA: The mother of the Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin told the Sessions Court here Tuesday (July 22) that she never left her child alone, except during working hours and school sessions. "Never, not even once. I was the one who carried, gave birth to, and raised Zayn (Zayn Rayyan). Throughout his life, I was only ever separated from him during my working hours and when he was at school. "I never left Zayn alone or neglected him," said Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the first defence witness during the examination-in-chief by her lawyer Haresh Mahadevan on the second day of the defence proceedings in the child neglect case involving her autistic son. Ismanira, 30, firmly denied that she neglected Zayn Rayyan, as alleged in the charge brought against her. "I was not at Block R the entire time, and I never went near the river area as alleged. I genuinely lost my child on that day (Dec 5, 2023), and it was not a case of neglect," she said. Yesterday, Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh ordered Ismanira to enter her defence after the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against her, while her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, was discharged and acquitted of the same charge. They were charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical harm, at or around Block R, Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai, extending to a nearby river area, between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction. - Bernama
New Straits Times
20 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Loan sharks using 'mistress ruse' to harass, claims family
KUALA LUMPUR: A woman from Jinjang Utara here has lodged multiple police reports after her family was allegedly targeted by loan sharks using a woman, posing as her father's mistress, to demand payment. The complainant, a 32-year-old customer service worker, said the harassment began in June last year. That was when a woman in her 30s, who identified herself as "Little 3", began calling family members and claiming to be involved with her 57-year-old father. The woman reportedly pressured them to repay debts he allegedly owed, the true amount of which remains unclear. In one instance, "Little 3" appeared at the family's grandmother's home and demanded RM300,000 after showing a loan agreement purportedly signed by the father. The family claimed more loan shark threats followed each of her appearances. "Normally, a mistress would come and just demand money, but because of the loan agreement, the family strongly believes that she is not his mistress but a loan shark," said MCA Public Complaints and Services Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong. This was at a press conference highlighting several loan shark-related cases at Wisma MCA today. The complainant and other members of her family were present. The alleged mistress also distributed the father's photograph online. Posters were also sent to relatives in an apparent effort to shame the family into paying. The complainant's father has long been absent from the household due to work and had prior issues with loan sharks. The family confronted their father about the allegations, but he denied having any relationship with her. The family urged the father, who has since been untraceable, to come forward and take responsibility for the loan. MCA Youth Legal Bureau deputy chief Victor Teoh said that if the loan agreement was genuine, the family may have legal grounds to sue the father. Chong said the case reflects a trend in which loan sharks adopt subtler, more manipulative tactics involving women to avoid risks. As of today, his department has recorded 196 loan shark cases, involving more than RM20 million. The press conference also highlighted other complainants, whose cases involve strange and alarming circumstances. A housewife in Petaling Jaya discovered her front gate chained and padlocked with a threatening note on 26 June. The note contained an IC copy of a man whom she had never met, with her home address listed. Although police later contacted the lenders who claimed the man owed them RM300, they demanded RM5,000 from the housewife to remove her from a blacklist. The woman had also received official letters and debit cards addressed to the man over the past year. She believes her address was fraudulently used in the scam. In a separate case, a 29-year-old accountant from Klang said she repaid all her loan shark debts earlier this month, only to find RM3,000 mysteriously deposited into her account. She was later contacted by a man claiming to be the depositor, demanding repayment. After blocking him, another man began threatening her with property damage and harassing her family. Meanwhile, a coach in Rawang reported that his elder brother, a hardware shop owner and habitual gambler, had disappeared after taking out further loans. The family, having already paid RM300,000 on his behalf, was now facing new threats. They attended the press conference to formally disown him to avoid further intimidation.
The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
Mother denies neglecting Zayn Rayyan in court testimony
PETALING JAYA: The mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, the autistic boy whose death sparked national attention, testified in court that she never left her son unattended. Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, firmly denied allegations of neglect during the defence proceedings at the Sessions Court. 'Never, not even once. I was the one who carried, gave birth to, and raised Zayn. Throughout his life, I was only ever separated from him during my working hours and when he was at school,' said Ismanira. Her lawyer, Haresh Mahadevan, led the examination-in-chief as she countered the prosecution's claims. The charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 alleges that Ismanira and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, neglected Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical harm. The incident reportedly occurred near Block R of Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai between December 5 and 6, 2023. Zaim Ikhwan was earlier acquitted, while Ismanira was ordered to enter her defence. 'I was not at Block R the entire time, and I never went near the river area as alleged. I genuinely lost my child on that day, and it was not a case of neglect,' she stressed. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a RM50,000 fine, or both. - Bernama
