KUANTAN: A staggering RM114.6 million has been lost to online scams in Pahang, with 5,941 cases reported between 2021 and May this year.
State Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang said that Kuantan topped the list with 2,470 cases, resulting in RM51.8 million in losses.
"Bentong recorded losses amounting RM17.8 million followed by Temerloh (RM12.8 million), Raub (RM7.2 million) and Cameron Highlands (RM5.2 million)," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Seri Shafik Fauzan Sharif (BN-Inderapura) on the losses resulted by online fraud cases at the Pahang state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
To combat these rising numbers, Sim said efforts were made by the Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department to raise public awareness.
"Police have partnered with government and private agencies, holding exhibitions and talks on cybercrime prevention. In the first five months of this year, 12 exhibitions and 86 talks were conducted across Pahang," he said.
He added that social media platforms were also being used to share real-time information on cybercrime and the latest tactics used by scammers.
On Sept 3, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said that online fraud alone accounted for RM21 million in the first eight months of this year, contributing to total commercial crime losses of RM69 million.