PETALING JAYA: School-leavers are dangerously exposed to job scams unless scam awareness is strengthened in early education, say experts.
Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Datuk Seri Dr King Lim Chin Fui said specific education on employment scams, particularly those targeting school-leavers, is still inadequate.
“Many youth begin exploring part-time or full-time work immediately after finishing secondary school.
“A large proportion of scam victims are the younger age groups who may lack real-world job experience.
“The inclusion of job scam awareness within the formal curriculum should be promoted, particularly at the upper secondary level.
“This could be integrated into existing subjects such as civic education or digital literacy modules, focusing on practical skills such as verifying employers, understanding employment rights, as well as recognising scam indicators,” he said when contacted.
Lim said there is a clear upward trend in job scams targeting youth and school-leavers seeking employment opportunities.
He added that scammers are exploiting platforms such as TikTok, Telegram and WhatsApp due to their high engagement among young users.
“On platforms like TikTok, scammers create appealing short videos advertising ‘easy jobs’ with high returns, sometimes claiming earnings of RM100 to RM300 per day with minimal effort.
“Common tactics include offering part-time online tasks, requesting small upfront payments that gradually increase, and using fake testimonials or screenshots to build credibility,” he said.
What is more concerning, he added, is the evolution of these scams beyond financial exploitation as victims are lured into overseas job offers which can lead to illegal activities.
“While not all job scams escalate to trafficking, MCPF views the risk as serious and evolving, especially given the involvement of organised cross-border syndicates,” he said.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim believes there is currently an awareness gap in school-level education regarding scams, including job-related scams.
She added that while students are academically prepared, many of them are not “street smart”.
“Thus, many leave school without the ability to spot red flags in job offers, making them easy targets for scams and exploitation,” she explained.
Although she did not explicitly call for the formal inclusion of scam and digital safety awareness in the school curriculum, Azimah said any effort must go beyond rote learning, ensuring that students are equipped with critical thinking and problem‑solving skills to handle real‑world risks.
“The focus of our education system should be on creating thinkers.
“Lessons learnt in schools must be applicable to real situations, enabling students to solve problems. We should stop spoon‑feeding passive knowledge.
“This means providing practical exposure such as scenario‑based learning, talks from authorities and honest conversations about exploitation and online dangers,” she said.
She added that schools should work closely with authorities such as the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
