In today’s digital age, online scammers are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. They use various tactics to deceive unsuspecting individuals into giving away their personal and financial information, such as phishing emails, fake websites, and social engineering techniques.
It’s important to be careful when sharing personal information online and to always verify the authenticity of any requests before responding. By being vigilant and cautious, you can protect yourself from falling victim to online scams.
Malay Mail reports that according to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, online scammers have become highly advanced and skilled to the extent that they can breach the private accounts of well-known individuals, like former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Fahmi cited an incident from August of last year when Ismail Sabri’s Telegram account was hacked, and the hackers impersonated him to solicit money from his acquaintances.
Wan Junaidi, our former law minister, got a message from Ismail saying ‘Assamualaikum, can I borrow RM3000’? He replied with, ‘you must be kidding me’.
These scammers sent messages to even these former high-ranking officials. They copied their speech patterns and the way you type.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi also said social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook have been hacked and exploited by scammers, but there haven’t been discussions with Telegram yet. He emphasised that the Malaysian government is taking the issue of online scams very seriously, as it not only involves financial losses but also the spread of extremist ideologies and pornography.
He urged the public to be cautious and avoid clicking on anything that appears suspicious or unfamiliar. He also advised the public to think twice before responding to any messages or requests, even if they appear to be from someone they know.
Recently, we reported a news of someone impersonating Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Instagram and scamming victims of their money for fictional business projects.
