By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Aug 25 — A total of 4,608 cases of cybercrime were reported in Selangor from January to July this year, said state executive councillor for consumer affairs Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.
He said the scamming activities resulted in a high value of losses and must be curbed as it has a negative impact on the circular economy.
"The highest number of cybercrime involves impersonation or fraud calls from government agencies such as the Immigration Department and the Inland Revenue Board to trick the victim into transferring money out of their account.
"The second is the online buying and selling scam. For example, the victim did not receive the same item as what is offered on the website. Such as clothes, when the goods arrive the product quality is not the same," he told Selangorkini here yesterday.
Mohd Zawawi urged victims to come forward and lodge a report so that those who took advantage of them could not continue scamming others.
"If more people become victims, the economic sector will be affected. Consumers will no longer believe in buying and selling online," he said.
Earlier this month, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) announced that 11,367 cases of cybercrime were reported from January to July this year compared to 18,510 cases of commercial crime in the same period.
CCID deputy director (cybercrimes and multimedia) Senior Assistant Commissioner Victor Sanjos said the trend of cybercrimes from 2016 till July 2022 showed an increase from 39 per cent to 61 per cent.
