BERAPIT State Assemblywoman Heng Lee Lee has urged the public to remain vigilant against online scams after she herself fell victim to a “mystery parcel” purchase using cash-on-delivery (COD) earlier this week.
Lee revealed that a parcel costing RM49 was delivered to her service centre, despite the contents bearing no resemblance to any item she had ordered through an e-commerce platform.
She warned that the growing trend of COD “mystery parcel” scams should be taken seriously, highlighting concerns over the ease with which personal data may be accessed by online sellers and courier agents.
“I cannot rule out the possibility that my personal data was compromised and misused by irresponsible parties to send unsolicited parcels,” she said at a press conference, alongside lawyer Low Yu Jo.
Lee advised the public not to immediately accept or pay for suspicious deliveries.
“If you receive any parcel that seems doubtful or does not match your online purchases, do not proceed with payment right away. Wait for two to three days to verify before dealing with the courier,” she said.
She added that she plans to file a claim with the Consumer Tribunal and hopes her experience can help raise awareness within the community.
Concerned about the potential spread of such scams, Lee said she intends to collaborate with local women and family development committees, as well as the Penang Women’s Development Corporation, to launch awareness campaigns.
“I am interested in initiating awareness efforts through local committees and may propose to the CEO of PWDC, Datuk Ong Bee Leng, to incorporate this campaign as part of the agency’s activities, especially as many women are active users of e-commerce platforms,” she added.
Meanwhile, Low noted that victims of e-commerce fraud can file claims with the Malaysian Consumer Claims Tribunal, provided the amount claimed does not exceed RM50,000.
“Claims can be filed within three years from the date of the incident. The filing fee is as low as RM5 and does not require legal representation,” he said.
He also encouraged the public to use the Semak Mule platform, developed by the police, to verify online sellers before making any transactions, as a precaution against falling victim to scams. – April 29, 2026
