KOTA KINABALU: Scammers have found their way into rural areas of Sabah, with Ranau district alone recording RM1.6mil in losses to fraud in the past 11 months.
Ranau acting OCPD Supt Mursalin Mahmud said the figure reflects cases reported to the district’s Commercial Crime Investigation Division.
Various factors contributed to the rise in fraud cases, affecting a wide range of people and resulting in substantial financial loss, he said.
"Statistics show an increase in investigation papers from 2015 to this year," he said on Thursday (Nov 7).
Supt Mursalin highlighted that scam victims come from all walks of life, including those with strong academic backgrounds who still fall victim to fraud.
Advising the public to be cautious, he said: “Do not engage with unknown numbers or unfamiliar parties. Avoid panicking if they say implicated in crimes like money laundering or drugs.”
He urged people to inform friends or family about any questionable calls and to be wary of threats citing the Official Secrets Act, a common scare tactic used by scammers.
"Most importantly, never disclose banking or financial information to anyone," he stressed, adding that law enforcement does not conduct investigations over the phone.
He said individuals should verify bank accounts using the police Semak Mule system or check with the district CCID on suspicious financial requests.
