“Online Scam Awareness” forum this Sunday at Kenyalang Park Community Centre

KUCHING: The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Sarawak and the Federation of Kuching Division Community Associations Sarawak are jointly organising a public forum on “Online Scam Awareness” this Sunday (June 30) at the Kenyalang Park Community Centre here at 1pm.

The programme is in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Bank Negara Malaysia, Sarawak and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, who are sending speakers to share their knowledge and experience in the subject matter.

Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How said a vigilant public plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Sarawak against scams through working with the various government bodies and agencies that are tasked to stop the relentless and enormous losses suffered by our citizenry, a threat to our families, relatives and neighbours.

“In a representative survey among 2,500 respondents regional survey across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam conducted last year, it has shown that families and circles of acquaintances represent a most crucial channel or source of information alerting the folk about scams: Vietnam (48 per cent), Singapore (46 per cent), Malaysia (44 per cent), Indonesia (42 per cent) and Thailand (40 per cent).

“The other common sources of scam alerts are newspapers, television and social platforms and resources,” said See, who is also chairman of MCPF Sarawak in a recent statement.
 
He added that in that respect, widespread public awareness to protect ourselves against scams and frauds is fundamental and of equal importance is to share the knowledge with our families, friends and neighbours, all our acquaintances as the information shared will prevent them from falling prey to the scammers and fraudsters.
 
“I am therefore grateful that the Federation of Kuching Division Community Associations Sarawak, a federation of 24 residents’ communities and associations in Kuching, has readily agreed to jointly organize this public awareness campaign to encourage their members across Kuching to actively attend and participate in this event.
 
“997 is the National Scam Response Centre Hotline for the public to promptly report any scam or attempts.

“A strong neighbourhood awareness on online scams and support to the victims will encourage prompt reporting which strong and effective law enforcement may be undertaken to lower scam instances.”
 
In the meantime, he said that The Milieu Insight had warned in its report that countries in the region, naming Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam as the top 3 countries where scams occasioned were not reported, that many victims may have normalised the impacts of scams or lack of confidence in the effectiveness of local authorities in combating such crimes.

‘However, high public awareness together with strong effective law enforcement and low scam incidence rate are correlated.

“We must all contribute to the comprehensive effort of the government to prioritize the fight against scams and create an environment that will be hostile to scammers thus protecting ourselves and our communities from falling victims to them.”
 
The organisers are giving out 500 custom made “Agent 997” T-shirts to participants, on a first come, first served basis.

At the Kenyalang Park Community Hall, the PDRM and Bank Negara Malaysia Sarawak are also setting up booths on crime prevention and for inquires. Admission for the public talk is free.