PETALING JAYA: It was an announcement of special cash aid for senior citizens, purportedly made by a state government, that Desmond Wong noticed ins a resident’s association group on the WhatsApp application.
The post he found had been shared by a fellow resident in his township.
Seeing that his elderly and ailing father might benefit from the cash aid, he clicked on a link provided in the post and was directed to a webpage that required him to fill in his father’s details.
However, he became suspicious when the website sought banking details, including passwords.
“The cash aid would apparently be paid within three days, and this seemed too easy.
“So I closed the page, and later I learnt it was a phishing site.
“My neighbour who forwarded it was also unaware it was a scam site,” he said.
Retiree A. Karunakaran said he too had come across such postings on WhatsApp but was fortunate to have consulted his nephew before clicking on the provided links.
“Luckily my nephew warned me that they were phishing websites based on some obvious tell-tale signs.
“I never knew there was such a thing and thought all websites were legitimate.
“For senior folks like me, we would prefer carrying out such applications in person to be safe,” said the former clerk, who is in his 70s.
Malaysia Consumers Movement secretary-general Herby Dhillon said local council offices, along with the service centres of state assemblymen and MPs, should develop strategic methods to properly assist senior citizens in signing up for government aid programmes.
“This could also be done at post offices where staff can help applicants.
“Publicise the availability of these services widely to ensure public awareness.
“There are uncountable scam links being shared every day in messaging applications, with claims of offering government aid and other welfare.
“Shockingly, educated people are among those who blindly share these messages.
“Instead of being well informed about the perils of blindly forwarding such messages in groups, they circulate them.
“This can only escalate the problem,” he said.
Herby said that the younger generation, being more familiar with the use of the Internet, should assist the elderly in their family to avoid them getting scammed or fleeced by unscrupulous parties.
