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.
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