Written by: Averroes
We must have been familiar with the Macau Scam that plagued through the country, famous and swimming in the pool of gold and money, the lap of luxury. To be short, it is when a victim receives a phone call from a random person who masquerades as a charlatan in professional fields. They would impersonate voices which, genuinely mimics an expert in any well-renowned career and conveys to them that they should enter into outstanding loan payments or unpaid fines.
These impudent individuals or suspects are to be illegally engaged in such activities, then the public filing a report to the authorities (the Royal Malaysia Police) or Attorney-General's Chambers may prosecute them as under section 420 of the Penal Code that states whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived to deliver any property to any person, faces imprisonment for a term not less than one year and not more than 10 years and with whipping, and also be liable to a fine.
Their illegal profit are generated mostly from the belie they perform, gambling and money-laundering. Money-laundering is concerned with masking the whereabouts of money, received illegally who would face charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The statute provides;
(a) any person who engages in or attempts to engage in; or
(b) Abets the commission of money laundering, shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five million ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years or to both.
For gambling, it is outright illegal in Malaysia except for Genting Highlands which provides for an exception. Among the laws regulating gambling are the Betting Act 1953, Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and Sharia Law based on State Enactments and their fatwas.
They would credulously adhere to those "official" instructions and later transfer large amount of money into another party bank account so as to deceive them that, if not "you will face legal consequences" or any equivalent threat. These chicanery are spread wildfire across the internet and despite its resonance, people still fall into their horrendous cesspools. Their Modus Operandi is the "A Voice Over Internet Protocol" (VoIP) as to impersonate trusted local numbers when, they are numbers abroad.
Recently, a manager of banking agency was duped when RM2 million was lost as a Macau scam syndicate posed as a police officer told her that she is struggling in a previous criminal record that involved a money-laundering case. The charlatans then ordered her to make that massive transaction to allocate it to a new bank account as to assist the Bank Negara for further investigation. The world dawned upon her that she realised that she had been cheated, and her money gone.
There are many more unfortunate turn of events for the rest of Malaysians, when a teacher's money dissipated amounting to RM1.13 million to another charlatan also posing as a police officer. It was from her expression that she was belied by the charlatan that she was involved in an accident and was involved in money-laundering activities.
Not just that, Macau scam can employ on other levels such as lucky draws, authority spoofing disguising as an officer of public servant, bank personnel or a kidnapper where he threatens that he has family members held hostage.
According to Bukit Aman commercial crime investigations department director Datuk Seri Mohd Zakaria Ahmad, thousands of Malaysians lose an average of RM2 billion to Macau scams whom operate on e-commerce, love scams and multitudinous platforms on the internet.
In short, Macau scams are within the definition of telecommunications fraud as criminologist and psychologist Associate Prof Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, people are not aware when they are being belied. The reason why it is named after an autonomous region in China is not conclusive, but it was first discovered there and in neighboring countries such as Taiwan. They also have a vast network internationally and it has crept into Malaysia.
As of this year, 4,865 investigations on Macau Scam are tabulated again by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) of the RMP. 730 bank accounts worth totaled at RM80 million, RM5 million in fiat money, 28 luxury cars ranging from Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Lamborghini.
She further adds that they have husky voices and are able to mimic authoritative voices and communicate in such an authentic manner. In response, the victim would fall trap and feel apprehensive and trepidation. Among the reasons why there is a obscure reaction toward this issue and ways to control is mainly because the public are lackluster to at least learn and lend a helping hand in dispensing knowledge and have consciousness.
People of all social background are susceptible and vulnerable to their ruses. The young, old, poor, wealthy, diverse religions and ethnicities are prone.
Whatever the predicament here, we should all aspire and learn a few or two when Macau scams enter into our lives,
1) Never submit to demands of charlatans or other personal particulars, especially bank account numbers
2) Regularly change our security information, password, identification card, credit card
3) Hold the call and reach them later to inspect their authenticity
4) Avoid saying "yes" as your call would be recorded and may be used against you. Alternatively, record the call yourself for evidence to the authorities. Ask them for their position, organization in length.
5) Ask for complete details from them and compare with other sources for clarity and authenticity
6) Lodge a police report if you are satisfied that you are being targeted and never be ashamed to contact your relatives or close friends
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