IN AN age when we leave digital trails everywhere with our personal info inadvertently leaked, we need to be extra vigilant lest we fall prey to a multitude of scams.
The latest clever ploy adopted by scammers is pretending to be insurance agents who call unsuspecting victims by stating that an unauthorised claim has been made.
Just received a scam call from 0199145231.
The caller claimed to be Asyraf Bin Mat Nor from Etiqa Takaful saying I made 3 separate insurance claim in since March totalling up to RM68,800.
When I said I didn’t make such claim, he was quick to conclude my identity was stolen. pic.twitter.com/EbQPG3Zu3W
— Thromboxane A2 Inhibitor (@azmanrocks) June 25, 2025
As shared by medical practitioner Thrombonexane A2 Inhibitor (@azmanrocks), the caller stated that the intended victim had made three separate insurance claims amounting to RM68,800 with Etiqa Takaful.
When the poster denied making such claims, it was quickly concluded that this was case of identity theft.
The scammer then advised the poster to make a police report and was even furnished with details such as a billing number, billing date and policy number.
The poster was told he would also need to collect a document from the insurer. However, the poster said he would check with the billing hospital, KPJ Damansara, first.
Needless to say, a quick call to KPJ Damansara proved that no such claim was made. The numbers provided by the scammer who goes by the name Asyraf Mat Nor to return call was also not in service.
Of grave concern to the poster was that the scammer was in possession of personal info, including full name and identity card number.
All this was delivered in a convincing and confident tone which made the poster wondered how many unsuspecting victims have fallen prey to this smooth talker. He also asked aloud just what manner of personal info was floating out there for scammers to abuse.
A few commenters also reported of scammers trying the exact same modus operandi on them. One said the product would change but the storyline would remain the same.
The poster insinuated that the rather unimaginative names used was a dead giveaway.
One commenter wondered what sort of scam would take place should the victim go through with this unauthorised claim.
It can be surmised that if the victim is sucked into the ploy despite not making any claims, the scammer will possibly say that the claim is about to be approved and the said sum would be paid into the victim’s account.
Preying on the victim’s greed, the scammer will probably ask for an advance for the claim to go through. And that’s where the tears will start.
Reality is our personal details are hot commodities and is possibly being traded and hawked on the black market to scammers who were just waiting for the right time to pounce.
The simplest advice from the many comments was just do not answer any calls or messages from unrecognised numbers. – July 1, 2025
Main image credit: Chautauqua County
