ALOR SETAR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has organised a programme to create awareness on the various tricks and tactics used by scammers in online fraud.
The Kuala Kedah Parliamentary Community Empowerment Initiative through the Klik Dengan Bijak (KDB) Programme was held at the Kuala Kedah National Information Dissemination Centre to educate the public about Internet safety in line with the rapid development of communication and multimedia technology.
Kuala Kedah district head Salleh Mahmud said the initiative was a commendable step in educating the public, who heavily rely on social media for information.
He said this reliance exposed them to the threat of scammers.
“Nowadays, certain parties are misusing the Internet to scam people, especially those in rural areas.
“So programmes like this are very good and effective in educating the public about the dangers of scams,” he told Bernama on Saturday.
A visitor, Muhamad Syater Awang Kechik, 30, said the MCMC initiative would help raise public awareness about actions that should be taken to avoid being scammed.
“Most victims might be those who haven’t been exposed to these scams, so to avoid being cheated, one must be cautious when receiving any suspicious links or phone calls.
“It’s best not to entertain them but if you do fall victim to a scam, report it to the police immediately,” he said.
At the KDB programme, various agencies also set up booths to provide the public with information about products and services offered.
Participating agencies included Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), the Inland Revenue Board, Employees Provident Fund, Tabung Haji, Tekun Nasional, Telekom Malaysia and Pos Malaysia.
According to Kedah/Perlis BSN Deposit manager Shafinaz Shafie, the bank took the opportunity to join the KDB programme to provide information and advice to the public regarding irresponsible parties who might misuse BSN’s name for scam activities.
“Scammers use various tactics, so before you believe in something, make sure to seek information from legitimate sources. Don’t believe everything you see advertised on social media,” she said.
Kedah Tekun Nasional Entrepreneur Development executive officer Mohamad Saidi Azizan advised the public to be cautious of scammers using the names of certain agencies to carry out fraud.
“For example, Tekun has faced situations where some parties were selling our loan application forms for RM200 or RM300, and we had to clarify this to the public.
“Tekun does not charge anything for these forms; we distribute them for free, so don’t easily trust external parties,” he said.
About 400 local residents attended the programme. They also had the opportunity to purchase various daily necessities at the Jualan Rahmah programme held at the event.
