CYBERCRIME has cost Malaysia RM64 million in the first three months of the year, indicating an upward trend, said Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director Mazlan Mansor.

He said police are expecting bigger losses this year.

“In 2017, RM266 million in losses were recorded from cybercrime. Last year, it was RM398 million. It is a huge increase,” he said after a meeting today between the police and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) enforcement teams in Cyberjaya.

“This year in just three months, we have recorded RM64 million in losses and I am expecting the number to increase.

“The problem is Malaysians easily fall for promises and believe what is offered without hesitation,” Mazlan said, referring to online scams.

He added many have fallen for what the “Macau scam”, where victims receive phone calls from someone posing as a bank officer, government official or debt collector who tells them that they owe money or have unpaid fines.

“The Macau Scam is big. Many of the public have fallen for this scam, despite information and advice from the police and MCMC.”

Mazlan said his meeting today is about combatting online scams and fake news.

He added that the CCID is working closely with MCMC on the spread of unverified news.

“Our cooperation has been established for a long time. We are just making it official today. A lot of topics have been, among them, combatting online syndicates.

“On the other hand, we are working on plans to trace and arrest those who make vile comments on social media and those who spread fake news,” he said. – March 20, 2019