KOTA KINABALU – Police have recorded over RM12 million in losses from online scams involving Kota Kinabalu residents this year.
District police chief Habibi Majinji said a significant increase in online frauds has been noted, with 346 investigation papers opened from January 1 until December 31 this year.
The fake activities include online shopping frauds (78 cases, involving RM652,246 in losses), Macau scams (121 cases, RM4.734 million loss), parcel scams or love scams (49 cases, RM5.408 million loss) and non-existent loan schemes (98 cases, RM1.181 million loss).
“This brings the total amount of losses to RM12.3 million,” he said at a press conference here today.
Habibi said police have just arrested seven individuals involved in a non-existent loan scam, which had been active via Facebook, with losses estimated at more than RM48,000.
The suspects, aged between 30 and 50 years old, comprised five local men and two local women.
He said the scam saw individuals being misled into allowing their bank accounts to be used by fraudsters to park money they had scammed from others.
“These individuals had given permission to the scammers to use their bank accounts and ATM cards, as the latter had promised them that their loans will be approved.”
Habibi said the fraudsters had asked some of the suspects to courier their banking details and ATM cards.
He said all the cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and fine.
In another matter, Habibi said Kota Kinabalu’s crime index dropped by 18.7% this year, with 1,001 investigation papers opened compared with 1,231 cases last year.
He added that of the 1,198 investigation papers opened between January 1 and December 31, Kota Kinabalu police presented 700 charge papers, or 35. 9%, in court. – The Vibes, December 31, 2020
