SUDDEN mood swings, secretive financial dealings and unexpected changes to phone passwords could be early warning signs that a family member has fallen victim to a scam, according to crime analyst Datuk Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim.
He said family members should look out for emotional changes including shame, guilt, anxiety and excessive worry, as victims often fear being judged or seen as weak and may hide what has happened.
"Significant emotional changes include suddenly becoming withdrawn, easily irritated, unusually quiet, losing focus, having difficulty sleeping and losing their appetite," he said when contacted by Harian Metro today.
He said victims could also remain in denial even when there were indications they had been deceived.
Behavioural changes could include suddenly changing phone passwords, preventing others from handling personal belongings and becoming secretive about financial matters.
"They may also make money transfers secretly, sell valuables without a reasonable explanation or borrow money from friends and family using inconsistent reasons," he said.
When questioned about money or financial dealings, victims might avoid the subject, change the topic or become angry because they did not want the truth to be discovered.
Shahul Hamid said victims could become increasingly desperate and resort to more aggressive ways of raising money, including taking out loans, selling assets or making additional investments in the hope of recovering money they had already lost.
He urged family members who noticed such changes not to immediately accuse or shame the victim, warning that doing so could cause them to become even more withdrawn.
Instead, he said, they should approach the victim with empathy and listen without assigning blame.
"The next step is to help stop the money transfers and cut off contact with the scammer, while seeking assistance from trusted parties such as the police and banks.
"People caught in scams are not necessarily weak or foolish, but they have been psychologically manipulated.
"I advise victims and their families to keep all evidence related to the scam, including screenshots of conversations, records of money transfers, account numbers and other information for further action," he said.
His advice comes after police previously revealed that illegal investment schemes and love scams were among the issues linked to the deaths of four family members in Sentul on Aug 26.
This version keeps the original substance but gives the story a stronger consumer-safety angle and a tighter news lead. - August 30, 2026
