PKR has rapped the authorities, especially Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), over their failure to act decisively against the growing cases of digital financial fraud.

The party has established a support group for people who have been cheated, called #ScamVictimSupport.

PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung said this was because the central bank is not taking the crimes seriously.

“I am disappointed with the authorities, whose actions are too little and too late. I am personally also disappointed that they see the #ScamVictimSupport group as offensive,” he said.

“(The authorities) should have contacted the victims and not turned their backs on them when the group approached them.”

Lee said the party secretariat was scheduled to meet last Friday with BNM to discuss the growing number of fraud cases but the meeting did not take place.

He said the bank refused to meet with all the members of the secretariat who were lawyers, volunteers and fraud victims.

“They contacted me and informed me that they only wanted to see me,” Lee said.

He added BNM governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus had also failed to reply to his letter which he sent more than a month ago regarding fraud concerns.

“If calls by the people’s representatives can be rejected and ignored like that, imagine the thousands of victims who are in dire need of help from BNM,” said Lee, who is the Semambu assemblyman.

Lee said the secretariat wishes to discuss the provisions of the law that are burdening bank customers.

“Banks easily wash their hands because they suffer zero losses as a result of fraud. Because of that we urge BNM to intervene and act firmly against banks.”

Lee said BNM is responsible under the National Bank Act 2009 for promoting monetary and financial stability.

He said banks must also share financial responsibility and urged BNM to insist that banks update their cyber security systems.

“BNM needs to establish an anti-fraud centre and compel the banks to station their staff there to ensure that immediate action can be taken in cases of financial fraud,” he said.

Lee said #ScamVictimSupport has received 30 reports of fraud that had caused losses amounting to more than RM4 million.

He encouraged victims of online financial fraud to go to PKR for help.

The Federal Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department recorded 14,140 online crime cases involving losses of RM482 million for the period of January to August.

Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said online purchases made up 6,449 of the cases.

“A total of 2,191 non-existent loan cases were recorded this year with a loss of RM25 million,” he said.

Acryl said 2,379 cases of online investment fraud,involving losses of RM151 million, were reported.

The Macau scam caused losses of RM147 million while RM39 million was lost to African swindlers.

The police aim to reduce online fraud cases by 10% next year with the appointment of 104 anti-fraud ambassadors selected from artists, entrepreneurs, religious leaders and athletes.

Former national badminton players Lee Chong Wei, Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia are among the envoys who will spread public awareness of online fraud. – September 19, 2022.