PETALING JAYA: The authorities need to understand the root cause of why Malaysians easily fall into scamming traps, says a cybersecurity expert.
Prof Dr Mohamed Ridza Wahiddin said a multi-disciplinary team of experts comprising psychologists, cybersecurity practitioners and legal experts should be gathered to identify the root cause of why many Malaysians are so easily scammed.
The founder and patron of International Islamic University Malaysia’s Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity said there are different levels of awareness of scams among Malaysians, namely: tahu (know), faham (understand) and jelas (clarity).
“Many Malaysians are in the first category, and these are the ones who make up the majority of scam victims.
“I would associate greed, fear or panic, and loneliness as factors compelling Malaysians to fall victim, with ignorance as the root cause,” he said.
Prof Mohamed Ridza added that the government should also step up anti-scam campaigns.
“By educating the rakyat, bearing in mind the different complexity of scams as well as the different levels of comprehension among Malaysians, this will create greater awareness,” he said.
On Dec 20, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the government is conducting a three-month study to identify any amendments or additions to existing laws to comprehensively tackle online crime.
Meanwhile, a Bank Islam spokesman told The Star that customers must also be vigilant and proactive in their defence even though the banking industry has implemented various stopgap measures to help prevent scams.
“Always verify your private image and word before entering your password; avoid transactions and contact your bank if you notice any discrepancies,” the spokesman said.
“Regularly update your password and security questions. Only download the official app from AppStore or Google Playstore, and conduct transactions exclusively through these official apps.
“Register for secure authentication for an additional layer of security,” the spokesman said, adding that banks employ advanced fraud monitoring systems to detect scams.
“These systems help banks detect suspicious transactions based on profiles and the behaviour patterns of customers,” the spokesman said.
“Once triggered, the dedicated fraud monitoring team will block the account and contact the customer to verify the unusual transaction.”
