COPS: BE WARY OF QR CODE PHISHING SCAMS
Scammers deliver gifts with QR codes that when scanned allow them access to bank accounts
POLICE have warned the public about a new phishing strategy in which scammers deliver presents with printed QR codes that, when scanned, purportedly allow the public to win cash vouchers.
However, scanning the QR codes will allow the scammers to drain their victims’ bank accounts.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the new tactic had spread on social media where scammers distributed the gifts from house to house.
“Through viral videos, it can be seen that they distributed gifts, such as mineral water bottles, containing printed QR codes which, when scanned, supposedly will allow the public to win cash vouchers worth RM200.
“In reality, when the QR codes are scanned, victims are asked to enter their banking information, resulting in the withdrawal of funds from their bank accounts.”
He said this was a phishing scam attempt and the public have been advised not to scan the provided QR code.
However, no police reports have been lodged by victims so far.
Ramli also warned the public that the tactic of sending scam text messages claiming to be from telecommunication companies had resurfaced.
He urged them to exercise vigilance and to never exchange banking information or one-time password numbers with unfamiliar parties.
“Recently, victims have reported receiving text messages purportedly from telecommunications companies, such as Maxis, Celcom and Digi.
“The content of these text messages inform the victim that their reward points are about to expire and urges them to immediately
redeem their reward points via the provided link.
“Upon clicking the link, victims are prompted to enter their online banking information, including the received OTP number. Subsequently, victims discover a reduction in funds from their bank accounts.”
To safeguard against such scams, Ramli advised the public to verify suspicious messages with the relevant telecommunications company before taking any action.
On another matter, Ramli said police had busted two call centres suspected of supplying recording and accounting systems for online fraud, and offering non-existent broadcasting services, both targeting Chinese citizens.
He said a raid was conducted on April 10 at a location in Cheras where a syndicate was believed to have been operating a call centre since March.
“The syndicate members acted as programmers in the financial management system for online fraud syndicates. Fraud syndicates would pay RM1,000 a month to use their system.”
Ramli said the syndicate had successfully sold the system to five “customers” in China.
“All payments were in USDT (cryptocurrency) and will be deposited into an eWallet account provided by their employer in China.”
Following the raid, Ramli said eight individuals, comprising five men and three women were arrested. Two of the women were from China and another woman was from Vietnam.
“Police seized four laptops, two computer monitors, 10 mobile phones, a modem, a router and cash amounting to RM3,122.
“Six out of the eight individuals involved were charged at the Jalan Duta magistrate’s court on April 16, while the remaining two individuals were unconditionally released,” he said.
In a second raid on April 12 in Taman Maluri, also in Cheras, police crippled a call centre syndicate offering fraudulent broadcast services to Chinese nationals.
Ramli said the syndicate acted as service agents managing and recording incoming/outgoing transactions of fraud money.
“All transaction payment information by victims will be provided through the Telegram messaging application by another syndicate acting as marketing agents. This syndicate offers fake television, drama and movie broadcast packages targeting Chinese nationals.
“Five suspects, comprising two Malaysian men and three Chinese nationals, aged between 28 and 33, were arrested.
“They played roles as supervisors and customer service officers at the call centre.
“Police seized three laptops, three monitors, 12 mobile phones, a modem, a router, three SIM cards, 40 pieces of RM100 notes, and 37 pieces of RM50 notes.”
Ramli added that two out of the five suspects involved were charged in court on April 16, while the remaining three agreed to be prosecution witnesses.