KUCHING: Cases related to e-commerce fraud have spiked in Kuching District during the movement control order (MCO).
In the period between the end of 2019 and June this year, 79 people between the ages of 19 and 57 had fallen victim to e-commerce scams, said Kuching OCPD ACP Ahsmon Bajah.
Losses due to scams on Facebook, Instagram, MiChat, WeChat, Mudah.com, Carousell, Lazada, Shopee and other online platforms totalled some RM729,208.
“The victims will usually be attracted by heavily discounted product offers advertised on social media,” he told the media at the Kuching District Police Headquarters (IPD) here on Thursday (Aug 12).
The total number of e-commerce fraud cases reported in this district for 2019 was six, incurring losses amounting to RM237,280, he elaborated.
Last year, he added, 12 cases were reported involving losses totalling RM88,542.
ACP Ahsmon noted that e-commerce fraud cases showed a sharp increase this year, with the period between January and June alone recording 61 cases, incurring losses amounting to RM403,386.
He advised the public to be cautious when making online purchases and to first check the seller or recipient’s bank account number on the Royal Malaysian Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) database at http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/ before finalising any transactions.
The public can also contact the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559.
