Hello Grasshoppa,
Previously I have covered on How To Spot An Investment Scam In Malaysia & and My Recent Encounter An Investment Scammer. With recent coverage on how other Malaysians got scammed by scammers that disguised as personnel from government agencies, BigPay agents & African that targets single women, scammers are basically everywhere. The most recent reported case is the Macau scam group where they got caught & one of their partners was even able to climb the MACC fence to escape with the help of 2 bodyguards. LOL.
The Macau Scam has caused many Malaysians to lose their entire life savings. They will usually target senior citizens or people that live in a smaller town. The victim will be told about their outstanding credit card payment or any crime related activity that they are suspected by the authority. To solve their problem, the victim will need to transfer their money to a certain bank account to solve their issue & the next thing that they realised, they just got scammed.
What Can We Do To Avoid Being Scammed?
1. Never Provide Any Of Your Personal Details
It can be from sensitive information such as your identity card number, address & also your credit card details. Recently there is a BigPay scam that is going around that are calling & identifying themselves as BigPay staff. Never reveal your OTP to them as this will cause your money to be deducted. Some of the scammers even have your personal details to make themselves look real. Revealing more of your personal details will not help in this situation so it is best to remain tight-lipped if they are asking for more.
2. Don’t Panic
The most important tip of all is to remain calm. Scammers will usually prey on the vulnerable & your tone & answer will reveal your emotions.
3. Whenever There’s A Sign Of A Scam, Hang Up Immediately
If you sense that you are being scammed, hang up the call immediately. Take a breather, evaluate the situation & contact the respective agencies to validate the call.
4. Never Make Rash Decisions
Scammers that are offering a good deal will always want you to make a quick decision. A “REAL” good deal will always be there even after you hang up the call. Those fake ones are the ones that will force you to make a fast decision.
5. Social Media Information & Privacy
The information that you put on your social media is where the scammers will capitalise on. The more private your social media is, the lesser information the scammers can get.
6. Shop Online With Reliable Stores
There are scammers that are out there selling stuff that is cheaper than the original item. Some of them may even post up a limited edition item. Buying from a reliable store may reduce your risk of getting scammed. It is also important to use secure payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe to ensure your money & personal information are protected.
7. Your Internet Security
Invest in Anti-Virus software. This is to protect yourself from a possible cybersecurity attack. Also, you may consider using a different password for each social media accounts as a safety measure. You can also use 2-step verification to minimise possible access by scammers.
Conclusion :
Bare in mind that scammers will always be out there & they will find all possible ways to scam your money. Always stay aware of any possible fraud & always remain sceptical towards deals that are too good to be true. You can also protect your family & loved ones by constantly reminding them to never get over-excited over any good deals as these deals may be fake. Never reveal any personal information and stay calm in any situation.
OSS!
