LETTERS: Online fraud in the country has escalated by an estimated 37.5 per cent in 2023, resulting in losses of more than RM1 billion.
Scammers use illegitimate websites that may be compromised with malicious software engineered to hack into online activities and acquire personal information.
Certain fraudulent websites imitate reputable and well-known charity websites to exploit public sentiment, steal funds and gain public trust.
So, ensure that the website you are visiting is safe by examining the URL bar for the "HTTPS" prefix to the web address, which denotes that the website is "secure".
Accounts that request an excessive amount of sensitive personal or financial data, such as social security numbers, ought to be avoided.
It is recommended that individuals use a virtual private network (VPN) when conducting online banking.
When using financial services over public Wi-Fi networks, a VPN with Threat Protection is advantageous because it prevents data phishing, the most effective method for hackers to acquire financial information.
Do not open attachments or click on links in emails or messages from unknown senders. They may infect your computer with fraudulent software to monitor your online activity or to steal money and information from your mobile device.
Here, artificial intelligence (AI) technology can mitigate the risk of manipulation, especially in the online donation sector.
In vast data sets, sophisticated AI and machine-learning algorithms can detect patterns and anomalies. Valuable in the realm of online fraud detection, this capability is beyond description.
Real-time analysis of transaction data by AI systems enables the detection of user activities that deviate from the established behavioural patterns.
AI can, for instance, determine whether a user is engaging in high-value transactions in a foreign country when they are accustomed to making small local purchases. Such a shift in behaviour could be flagged as potentially fraudulent.
With its capability to analyse vast quantities of data in real-time and recognise patterns that indicate fraudulent activity, AI can prevent online fraud.
Nonetheless, considering the increasing sophistication of fraudsters, including their ability to manipulate AI technology, it is critical that fraud prevention strategies be strengthened to deter them.
These include the establishment of resilient cybersecurity protocols to safeguard the portal against hacking, public education initiatives urging donors to use official portals exclusively, and a robust legal structure that sanctions fraudulent endeavours via surveillance facilitated by sophisticated AI technology.
DR SHAMSUL ARRIEYA ARIFFIN
Head of SIG Educational Usability Testing, Faculty of Computing and Meta-Technology, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times