KUALA LUMPUR: Scammers are using a new tactic of making video calls to victims, purportedly to help them lodge police reports online before fleecing them of money.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said 34 police reports were lodged last year involving losses of about RM1mil last year based on this new tactic, dubbed the "e-reporting scam".
"A total of 14 police reports have been lodged this year with losses reaching RM960,500," he told a press conference on Wednesday (March 27).
Comm Ramli said the victim would first get a call from a person claiming to be from a courier company.
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"The caller will create a situation where the victim will panic and follow instructions," he said.
The call will be connected to another syndicate member posing as a policeman through a video call, he said.
"Through the video call, the victim will be convinced to lodge an online report (e-reporting) and interact with a bogus police officer who is standing against a background mimicking a police station.
"With such a backdrop, the victim will feel assured and give up their information before transferring their funds," he said.
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Comm Ramli reminded the public to be careful and not easily duped by such tricks.
"We will not use video calls to receive police reports or conduct investigations.
"The investigation process will be conducted in person at any police station or premises owned by the police force," he said.
Comm Ramli said e-reporting was developed by the police to enable the public to lodge non-criminal reports online.
"It is limited to lodging reports about missing documents or belongings and not connected to criminality," he stressed.
