MCA has expressed concern for the recent slew of online financial scams that have been plaguing the people in the recent days.
Party vice president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said this in response to reports of national shuttlers Tan Boon Heong and Lai Pei Jing falling victim to unscrupulous scams after being introduced by persons they trusted, with the latter losing nearly her entire life savings.
“It’s disheartening to see our national heroes, who have brought pride to our country, suffer such significant financial losses,” Wee, who is also the Tanjung Piai MP, said in a statement on Tuesday (June 4).
For context, the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) recorded losses of RM1.34 bil, in 33,234 online crime cases, from Jan 1 to Dec 8 last year.
From 2022 to 2024, consumer complaints about scams in e-commerce rose from 14% to 19%, while complaints about fake advertisements surged from 9% to 32%.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department, meanwhile, reported a 37% increase in e-commerce fraud cases from January to November last year, with losses rising by 46% to RM1.13 bil.
“MCA calls upon the authorities to enhance measures to combat these fraudulent activities. This includes stricter regulations, improved surveillance, and more robust cybersecurity protocols to safeguard our citizens from such devious schemes,” Wee said.
“We hope the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission which comes under Fahmi Fadzil’s portfolio as the Communications Minister will declare an all-out war against online fraudsters.”
Wee said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) needs to work with Bukit Aman, which comes under Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s watch, to tackle these cyber trickers.
“Immediately shut down any known fake online social media account or webpage once reports have been lodged with either the police or MCMC, identify the location of the scammers and where necessary, share such intel with their overseas counterparts,” he stressed.
“Increasing public awareness and education about these scams is crucial. The relevant ministries and authorities, banks and MCMC could organise awareness campaigns and workshops via roadshows to educate the public on identifying and avoid falling prey to these scams.”
“We call for stronger collaboration between financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and the government to develop comprehensive strategies that can effectively counteract and prevent these frauds.”
Legislation and guidelines for online consumer protection
According to Wee, scammers are increasingly using platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop for fraudulent advertisements, causing significant trust issues for consumers and businesses.
“Effective measures include thorough screening of advertisers and continuous monitoring of content on e-commerce platforms,” he remarked.
“Existing laws like the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 need to be supported by technological and educational efforts.
“Close collaboration between the National Consumers Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, and various ministries is essential to create comprehensive guidelines for online sellers.” – June 4, 2024
Main pic credit: The Star
