GEORGE TOWN: Penang has recorded a 45 per cent increase in online scam cases this year compared with last year.

The state recorded 2,363 scam cases this year compared with 1,632 cases last year.

Among the online scam cases are phone scam, love scam, e-commerce scam, non-existent loan and investment scams, phishing and part time job offer scam.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in order to handle the issue more efficiently, police had implemented various strategic and effective measures.

“Based on the police’s record, there is an increase in various scam cases between January and Sept 30 this year, that is 731 cases or 45 per cent compared with last year.

“Police have taken various strategic measures, including an increase in law enforcement through arrests and prosecutions in court and commercial crime prevention campaigns from time to time,” he told the state legislative assembly sitting here today.

He was responding to a question by Lee Boon Heng (PKR – Kebun Bunga) on the scam cases recorded in the state and steps taken to overcome them.

Chow said police also cooperated with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Bank Negara as both agencies had helped in the investigations into such cases, such as the internet network and banking system.

“Police also form collaboration at the international level through the Financial Intelligence Unit to prevent fund transactions at the international level.

“The people can also use the ‘Semak Mule’ app developed by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department to make it easier for them to check bank accounts and telephone numbers under police probe.

“We advise the people to use the app before they conduct any online financial transactions,” he added.

Online scam cases or cyber crime cases can be defined as any behaviour that has the intention and is linked to the computer through any means to cause the victim to suffer losses.

It can also refer to any illegal activity where knowledge of computer technology is used to realise it.

This article first appeared on NST.