Loan fraud tops cyber crime cases in Sarawak
LIMBANG: Loan fraud records the highest number of cyber crime cases with 80 recorded in Sarawak from January to April 24 this year.
Head of Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigations Department, Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah, said the number was 10 cases more than the 70 cases recorded in the same period last year.
“Macau scam cases and purchasing items through the Internet were ranked second with 41 cases each,” he said when met after attending ‘Islamic Women and Family’ seminar organised by Limbang Islamic Celebration Standing Committee and Perkim Limbang yesterday.
He said other cyber crime cases recorded this year included love scams and work opportunities (35 cases), investments (28 cases), banking fraud (eight), and tourism (seven).
Mustapha said the victims in the eight cyber crime cases recorded in Sarawak this year incurred losses amounting to RM9.6 million.
On commercial crimes, Mustapha said a total of 125 arrests were made from January to April 23 this year compared to 111 arrests made in the same period last year.
Apart from cyber crime, arrests made for other commercial offences include fraudulent cases, criminal breach of trust, property misuse, counterfeiting, fake money, ah long, compact video disc (VCD) and digital video discs (DVDs).
He said the police were intensifying their effort with the media to publicise the fraud cases and to raise public awareness about the dangers of cyber crime.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Walikota of Limbang District Council Sufian Mohat, Limbang Perkim branch chairman Dayang Maimunah Awang Mohd Daud and Limbang Religious Affairs Officer (JAIS) Awang Abdul Rahim Awang Rosely were also present at the event.