Over RM5.2bil lost to commercial crime from 2020 to 2022, says IGP

JOHOR BARU: The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has recorded 71,833 commercial crime cases with losses amounting to more than RM5.2bil, says Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

The Inspector-General of Police said the cases were recorded from 2020 until May this year, with 48,850 cases, or 68% of the recorded cases, involving online scams.

ALSO READ: Pensioner loses RM4.3mil to love scam

"RM5.2bil is a big figure and that is why we need to continue engaging the public and share with them some of the latest modus operandi or tactics used by these scammers so that they will not fall easily for them.

"Only by equipping members of the public with the knowledge of scam activities can we protect them from harm," he said, adding that some of the targeted victims include the elderly group, and pensioners, including government and private-sector workers.

He said this when met by reporters after the officiating ceremony of the PDRM Anti-Scam Campaign 2020 at The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, here on Saturday (June 25).

ALSO READ: INTERACTIVE: Online scam tactics are evolving. Here’s how to protect yourself

Police will also conduct joint research with the local universities to get information on the public level of awareness of scam activities in the country, the IGP said.

"Some of the cases recorded include love scams, where 1,580 cases were recorded in 2020, a slight drop of 1,460 cases in 2021, and 361 cases in 2022 (until May).

"As for Macau scams, we recorded 2,254 cases in 2020, 1,586 cases in 2021 and 1,612 cases in 2022 within the same period," he said adding that love scams involved scammers tricking victims to fall in love with them while Macau scams involved scammers impersonating the authorities.

He added that some of the trouble faced by the police in eradicating these scam activities is due to the lack of cooperation from the scam victims themselves.

"There are three main concerns from their side namely; they are ashamed of telling their family members and reporting the case, the amount of losses is not worth the hassle, and they would not be able to get back the money they have lost to the scammers," he said.