FEATURES

EXPERT: IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE MODUS OPERANDI OF MACAU SCAMS

12/10/2020 06:01 PM

By Muhammad Basir bin Roslan

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – The story of the Macau scam is all too familiar. The victim gets a phone call from an official-sounding person. The victim is told he/she has accumulated outstanding loan payments or unpaid fines. The victim panics and willingly follows the instructions of the “official”, including transferring huge sums of money into certain bank accounts, to supposedly avoid “getting into trouble”.

The scams and their modus operandi are widely reported in newspapers, news portals and social media, yet day in, day out people fall prey to these scammers.

Just last week, the manager of a banking agency lost nearly RM2 million after she was tricked by a Macau scam syndicate member posing as a police officer. She was told that she had a previous criminal record involving a money-laundering case and was instructed to transfer money to a new bank account to “facilitate an investigation by Bank Negara”. The victim realised she was cheated after the money disappeared from the account.

Another recent similar case involved a teacher who lost nearly RM1.13 million after she was deceived by an individual impersonating a police officer. The victim was duped into believing that her vehicle was involved in an accident and that she was engaged in money-laundering activities.

News reports in August 2019 quoted the then Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigations Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Zakaria Ahmad as saying that thousands of Malaysians lose an average of RM2 billion each year to Macau scams, e-commerce fraud and love scams, all committed through the Internet or phone calls. 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION FRAUD


Prof Madya Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat. -- Photo courtesy of Prof Madya Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat

In Malaysia, Macau scams are categorised as telecommunication fraud. According to criminologist and psychologist Associate Prof Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, it is easy for people to fall victim to syndicates out to fleece them of their money simply because they are not aware that they are being duped.   

“The syndicate members are very cunning and disguise themselves as officers who sound very authoritative over the phone and can make their victims feel anxious and panicky, as well as create in them the desire to protect themselves against any legal action,” she said.

She told Bernama people are deceived by these fraudsters as they not only appear to be credible and legitimate but also use the visceral approach to evoke an emotional response from their victims who without further thought easily succumb to their threats, pressure, greed and extortions.

Geshina Ayu, who is a lecturer in forensic science at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said apathy among the public to familiarise themselves with the subtle techniques employed by scammers was also among the factors why people continue to get conned.

She said in 2017 the police had pointed out that the Macau scam has four different modus operandi, namely lucky draw where the victims received a phone call claiming that they had won millions of dollars in lucky draws; authority spoofing or impersonating a police officer or government officer; bank spoofing or impersonating a bank officer; and impersonating a kidnapper where the victim was told that his/her family member has been kidnapped and a ransom must be paid immediately.

However, studies and official reports from outside Malaysia have shown that the modus operandi of these Macau scammers is much more extensive.

No matter what their modus operandi is, Geshina Ayu urged the public to refrain from entering into a tacit agreement with the syndicates by submitting to their demands and revealing their personal particulars, especially their bank account number. The public, she added, should also update or change the security settings of their personal computers and financial transaction websites.  


The CCID's Semak Mule application that allows the public to detect bank accounts used by scammers by scammers. The website link is at http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule . --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

She said the Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s Semak Mule portal, launched last year, can be accessed by the public to check bank accounts or phone numbers that have been linked to criminal activities.

 

MONEY LAUNDERING


The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission seized 23 luxury cars in connection with recent investigations pertaining to a Macau scam syndicate. -- Photo courtesy of bharian.com.my

Besides Macau scams, money laundering – which refers to concealing the origins of money obtained illegally – is another activity that has surfaced in recent times.

It was reported last week that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained 10 individuals, including eight senior police officers, and seized cash amounting to RM100,000 in connection with investigations into an online gambling, money laundering and Macau scam syndicate. It is understood that the police officers detained were believed to have protected the syndicate concerned.


Datuk Seri Azam Baki. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki was reported as saying that they have seized 730 bank accounts worth RM80 million belonging to the syndicate members, including celebrities. Also seized were 24 luxury cars believed to have been purchased with the syndicate’s ill-gotten gains.

Lawyer Nor Zabetha Muhd Nor said the involvement of police officers in illegal activities can smear the integrity and reputation of the law enforcement authority and that they may face charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613).

She said police action against scammers and money launderers should tally with the rise in reports received by the authorities.


Nor Zabetha Muhd Nor. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“Personally, I feel we have sufficient laws and penalties to deal with these issues but then the number of people being charged for committing such offences seems to be low.

“When more of such cases are investigated by the authorities and rightful action is taken, it will put more fear into the criminals,” she said, adding that letting the perpetrators go free will only encourage them to continue pursuing their immoral activities.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIDE BAR

 

Members of Macau scam, money laundering and other illegal syndicates can be charged under the following two Acts.

Under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 or Act 613, any person who (a) 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.

Under Section 420 of the Penal Code, 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.

 

Translated by Rema Nambiar

BERNAMA

 

 


 


BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 IFLIX channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.

Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial

© 2024 BERNAMA   • Disclaimer   • Privacy Policy   • Security Policy