Scams are getting more and more realistic and this time, scammers have created a website resembling a government site in order to steal people’s Telegram accounts.
According to Cyber Security Malaysia, the victims will first receive a message on their Telegram account which will lure them into clicking on a link to what looks like a government website where the user will be redirected to a phishing site.
They will ask for the individual’s phone number and need you to input the OTP sent to your Telegram account.
After that, they will ask for the individual’s Telegram password as they assume that an individual will use the same password on their other accounts (for banking, social media, etc.).
Finally, at the last stage, they will say that the individual is eligible for the government’s financial aid. Still, at this point, the scammer has already gotten full control of the individual’s Telegram account and can proceed to lock the user out.
Their telegram account may be used to spread this phishing exercise further and maybe even other scams.
To combat this, Cyber Security Malaysia advises everyone to be wary and follow these steps to avoid being scammed.
- Do not panic.
- Do not click any suspicious URLs sent through SMS, email, or any messaging services.
- Use different password variations for each online account and adhere to the best password management practices. This step should protect you in the future because no other account should be affected if one account is breached.
- Quickly file a police report if they encounter or fall victim to such scams.
- If you suspect unauthorised bank transactions in your account, immediately report to your bank by calling the bank’s hotline, which normally operates 24×7.
- You can also call the Malaysian National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) hotline at 997 within 24 hours or as soon as possible. The hotline number operates daily, including on public holidays, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- The public can also contact the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) via the CCID Infoline at 013-211 1222 or the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559 or 03-2610 1599.
- Contact relevant authorities such as Cyber999 for any inquiries and assistance related to this threat.
Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to these kinds of scams, so make sure you share this information with them so that they are aware.
Also read: Budget 2024: RM20 Million Allocated to Battle Scams & Speed up Process to Return Scammed Money
