THE growing menace of online scams have become impossible to ignore, with police describing them as “silent killers”, where the crimes not only drain victims financially but also leave lasting emotional scars and shatter livelihoods.
Investigation officer Inspector Muhammad Hyzreen Mohd Zain said such scams could wipe out victims’ savings and “subsequently destroy their lives.”
“Scams don’t just take your money, they destroy futures. They’re silent killers,” he said during his speech at Scam Awareness Talk + Say No to Scam campaign held at a mall in Farlim, Air Itam, Penang.
He said such crimes could also tarnish the reputation of enforcement agencies and erode public trust when victims mistakenly believe authorities failed to act.
He urged the public to practise digital vigilance to prevent falling prey to such schemes.
Insp Muhammad Hyzreen stressed that many victims unknowingly allow scammers access to their financial information simply by downloading suspicious apps or clicking unverified links.
He advised the public to avoid sharing personal or banking information over the phone, even if the caller claimed to be from a government agency or financial institution.
He said scammers would often impersonate officials to gain trust and extract confidential data.
Insp Muhammad Hyzreen also reminded attendees to be wary of investment offers that promise unusually high returns.
“Always verify with Bank Negara or official sources before committing to any investment platform,” he said.
He encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity immediately to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, or contact the nearest police station for guidance.
The talk, organised as part of the campaign, aimed to educate the public on emerging fraud tactics and reinforce the importance of community vigilance in combating financial crime.
Organised by 30 Lions Clubs from Penang with collaboration from police, the event also saw the launch of the Call 997 poster.
Event organising chairman Teoh Shaw Jhee said the club had printed 2,000 copies of A2 posters which will be put up around Penang.
“The posters will be placed in public areas such as markets, schools, malls and high-rise buildings,” Teoh said in his speech.
Teoh said cyber and financial scam cases were now a threat to the public, and as such, it was important to raise awareness.
He said Lions Clubs could help police raise awareness of scams.
He said the posters was also to inform and educate the public on who to call if they faced the threat of scams in their daily life.
“Awareness is our first line of defence, calling 997 is the right way when you risk being scammed,” he added.
Present during the programme were George Town OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad, his deputy Supt Lee Swee Sake and District Governor Lions 308 B2 Don Hoe.
ACP Abdul Rozak, who launched the poster, praised Lions Clubs for organising the event and described the initiative as a noble effort.
“While we remain fully committed to combating corruption, success requires the collective support and cooperation of all stakeholders,” he said in his speech.
He advised the public not to be easily misled or duped by attractive offers from unknown individuals online.
