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- Wake Up Malaysians! Already More Than RM 5.4 million Scammed, Still Want Contribute More To Scammers?
Wake Up Malaysians! Already More Than RM 5.4 million Scammed, Still Want Contribute More To Scammers?
Over RM5.4 million was scammed through online car sales in the first five months of this year, with a total of 461 cases reported.
According to Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department director Mohd Kamarudin Md Din, there was an increase of 94.5 percent from 237 cases reported in the same period last year, with losses amounting to RM1.4 million.
“Throughout 2020, a total of 678 cases of vehicle scams involving losses amounting to RM5.9 million were reported, an increase of 22.8 percent from 552 cases with losses amounting to RM3.2 million reported in 2019,” said Kamarudin in a statement.
He advised that the public always take precautionary measures before making any vehicle purchase online.
“Among the measures that can be taken is to survey and review the current market price of vehicles, not to taken in by advertisements that offer used cars at low prices on the grounds of Customs exemption or seizure by the authorities.
“Also, customers must always keep records of conversations and payment transactions as evidence and ensure that the sale and purchase agreement is done through a certified method as well as checking verification of the bank accounts and telephone lines through https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my,” said Kamarudin.
Use this website to verify bank accounts and telephone lines.
Kamarudin also disclosed that the modus operandi often used by the scammers was to offer imported vehicles at low prices claiming that the cars were from Thailand, Singapore and Langkawi.
Scammers have tricks up their sleeve.
“They will use social media as an advertising medium, and the victim will then be asked to deposit a sum of money into the account supposedly for payment of processing fees, road tax and grants. Once they get the money, they will vanish,” Kamarudin expressed.