So rampant, it’s become a ‘scamdemic’

Cause for concern: The actual number of Malay­sians who have fallen victim to job scams is unknown, although the Malaysian International Huma­nitarian Organisation, an NGO that assists in rescuing Malaysians from such scams, claims that there are at least 1,000 Malaysians in Myanmar alone.

PETALING JAYA: Not only is Malaysia suffering from a “scamdemic” with citizens continuing to fall victim to job scams, but the country is also believed to be the location of scam centres with international syndicates having set up operations here, according to a United Nations report.

Coined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, the term “scamdemic” has gained traction as scam cases surge, particularly in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.