Online scams cost victims nearly RM3bil since 2017, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: From 2017 to this June, a reported 89,798 online scam cases have cost victims nearly RM3bil, the Dewan Rakyat heard.

Of these, online shopping scams topped the list with 32,791 cases.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed said the other cases involved Macau Scams, love scams, African scams, nonexistent loans and also SMS-based scams.

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"The cases (involved) losses of RM2,971,534,364," he said during Oral Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (July 19) morning.

Ismail said in the same period, police made 42,884 arrests and 25,891 charges were filed as a result.

"Aside from enforcement, police have taken the initiative to educate the public on online scams through awareness campaigns.

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"The police also work with other agencies and NGOs so that the public gets information and is alerted to the latest modus operandi of scammers," he added.

Ismail was responding to Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris (PN-Libaran), who asked the government to state its approaches on addressing commercial crime in the country.