KUALA LUMPUR: City police have recorded more than 1,000 commercial crime cases with losses amounting to about RM72.5 million between January and November this year.
The statistics showed a 100 per cent increase in the value of losses in commercial crime cases as compared to last year.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said that as of November, there were 1,201 commercial crime cases amounting to RM 72.5 million in losses as compared to 2017, when there were 850 cases with losses of RM35.1 million.
He said that Macau scams were the types of commercial crimes that recorded the highest number. He said there was an increase in these types of scams.
“In 2017, there were 346 cases of Macau scams and this number increased to 469 (between January and November this year) with losses amounting to RM53 million. We believe there are other cases which were unreported.
“Cases of non-existent loans came in second place with 382 cases, followed by African scams and online cheating cases,” he told reporters after the launch of an anti-cyber crime programme in Menara CIMB, Jalan Raja Laut here today.
The ‘Padu Banteras Jenayah Siber’ programme is the first collaboration involving CIMB Bank Bhd and the city police to impart awareness about cyber crime to customers and members of the public.
Also present was CIMB Group Chief Compliance Officer Kwan Keen Yew.
Mazlan said efforts should be continued by the police to remind the public about commercial crime and cyber crime.
“Today, we are collaborating with CIMB to give out a message to the community so that they will not fall victim to such crimes.
“The public must be more careful and they must not be too gullible when they receive messages from people they do not know.
“Also, the public must not become part of these crime syndicates by offering their bank account to be used for illicit activities,” he said.
Mazlan urged those with information on such cases and victims to contact the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or Commercial Crime Department at 03-2146 6245.