JOHOR BARU: Victims of fraud scams are often oblivious to the dangers of scams, and would rather believe that they had fallen under a spell.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said many victims were trapped in their own bubbles, failing to recognise the escalating threat of fraud.
"Rather than acknowledging the risk, they seem to believe they were enchanted," he told the New Straits Times.
"This mindset makes them more susceptible to falling for scams."
Amid a rise in scam-related cases, Ramli emphasised the urgent need for greater awareness and caution when dealing with suspicious calls, particularly those claiming to be from authorities.
"Many victims are law-abiding citizens who have never been involved in criminal activities, making them more likely to take calls from supposed authorities seriously. These individuals, unfamiliar with crime, often follow scammers' instructions, believing they are complying with legitimate officials," he explained.
He reminded the public that when police conduct investigations, their standard operating procedure is to arrest suspects without warning or negotiation.
"No legitimate government agency will pass the phone among officers to explain a crime to suspected individuals.
"Those receiving such calls should recognise them as scams. If someone has committed a crime like money laundering, they will be arrested immediately—there is no discussion or negotiation involved," he said.
Ramli expressed alarm over the growing number of victims falling prey to phone scams despite ongoing police efforts to educate the public.
"We have reached out to over a million people through our campaigns, emphasising the importance of not succumbing to these deceptive calls. Yet, the number of cases continues to rise, which is appalling," he stated.
He identified ignorance as a key factor in these scams.
"Many victims report feeling 'pukau' or under a spell when they are cheated out of their savings by scammers posing as government enforcement officers.
"Our investigations reveal that they are unaware that police do not negotiate with suspects before arresting them," he said.
Additionally, Ramli noted that e-commerce vendors are also at risk.
Earlier, the NST reported that an e-commerce vendor lost RM106,400 to a fake government officer who accused her of selling unapproved cosmetics online.
"Online sellers need to be cautious if they receive calls from supposed authorities questioning their products or services. Falling into these traps can lead to serious financial losses," he warned.
His advice to the public is clear: never transfer money based on instructions from unknown callers.
"Before taking action, please verify the provided account number with SemakMule, a service designed to identify scam accounts. In many cases, the scammers' accounts are already registered as mule accounts."
"We must all be vigilant. Scammers prey on fear and ignorance, and we cannot afford to let them win," he said.