Featured image source: poxse / thestar
There’s a lot people out there who’s trying to earn quick bucks, prying honest people of their money. We’ve heard about fake scratch-and-win lotteries and romance scams, but here are some you should be careful for. You never know when it would happen to you.
1. Online Shopping Scam
These occur on online shopping platforms such as Mudah or Carousel. Scammer pretends to be an interested buyer and then claims to have transferred the payment to the victim. The amount transferred is overpaid, so victim will have to “refund” the money to a given bank account.
Most recently a Singaporean Facebook user Gina Ang just encountered the situation.
The fraudulent email:
Luckily for her, she didn’t easily fall into the trap.
If this ever happen to you:
Contact your own bank immediately to enquire about the “locked” purchase. If there are any incoming or outgoing transactions, your bank will definitely be able to check them.
2. Webcam Blackmail Scam
Scammers would leave their victims Facebook messages, pretending to befriend them (their targets are men because men are perverted like that). After that, scammers will invite victims to have a webcam session while tempting the victims to show their private parts. The scammers will actually appear naked infront of the victims to persuade them. These scammers will later tell them that the whole thing was recorded and if they don’t pay up, the video will be released on the internet to all their friends and family.
The conversation below are screenshots by a victim’s friend who attempted to catch the scammer in the act:
There has been a lot of reported cases; one case involving an 19 year old student who was extorted for RM2,500 and another involving a married man who was blackmailed for over RM10,000.
If this ever happen to you:
Well, just don’t be horny and do indecent things online to begin with.
3. Fake Bank Scam
Scammers are so elaborate that they have an automated operator to call victims to inform them of ‘false purchases’ made under their card. Example: A transaction for a flat-screen TV amounting to RM10,000 has been made under your card. If you did not make the purchase, please call (insert number here).
Victims who are alarmed that their credit/debit card is being used are referred to a bank officer who then instructs them to file a report with Bank Negara’s “Unit Kredit Kad Palsu”. The officer gives the victims a supposed Bank Negara number to make the report. When the victim calls the number, an “inspector” requests the victim to transfer some money to a ‘secured’ third party account for security check. It goes without saying that the victims will never get their money back.
If this ever happens to you:
Call your own bank immediately and enquire about the transaction made. Make sure to obtain your bank’s number from their official website.
4. Mosquito Fogging Scam
These scammers pose as a Pest Control company to knock on your door for fogging services. They will usually convince their victims that it’s urgent to have fogging done within the area and it will only costs a one time RM100 ‘membership’ fee, which means fogging services for the subsequent years will be free. Upon payment, the fogging done only lasted less than 5 seconds.
A victim mentions,
“They told me the fees were RM100. I told them I don’t have enough money and they negotiated to RM50. In the back of my head I suspected they were scammers but they were rushing me so much that I didn’t have time to think.”
If this ever happen to you:
Fogging is done by the local municipal council so it’s free. If someone comes knocking on your door for these services, turn them away.
5. Gas Tank Inspection Scam
Scammers will head to a housing neighbourhood and ring door to door. They claim to be from UGS Gas Malaysia or some other gas company and would even deliberately dressed in uniform and have a fake license.
One victim said,
“I asked him by what authority is he doing this. He acted surprised that i have not heard of such things. I refused him entry into my premises, and got a little assertive with him. Told him i wanted all his particulars – name, ic no, company name and id no, as I wanted to make a police report.”
His reply “macam itu, takpe la. Terima Kasih saje ah”
These scammers who enter the victims’ house will start telling worse-case-scenarios such as gas leakages and explosions. They will then aggressively force victims to purchase overpriced safety gas hoses, gas caps and offer their services that cost up to RM200. Victims who are worried of these strangers in their house usually comply to buy the products.
If this ever happen to you:
Remember that you have the right to refuse entry to your house. Some victims fall prey to the scammers because scammers will use an authoritative tone on the victim, demanding to check the house as a ‘safety measure’.
6. Facebook Contest Scam
Image source: poxse
It’s common to see your friends participating in a Facebook contest, and having you help them “like” their picture. However, beware of fake Facebook contests which redirects you to sign in again; make sure it’s still Facebook’s URL.
Users who input their email and password will have their account details saved. This will allow the scammer behind it hacking/stealing your account, obtaining whatever vital information they are looking for.
If this happen to you:
Make sure the URL is a correct one whenever you input personal details. If you found out too late, immediately change your password to a new one. If the details for your Facebook account is the same for your other accounts, eg. Gmail, LinkedIn etc, immediately have those changed too.
