SPM leavers, fresh graduates at high risk of scam recruitment
"Parents, please pay attention to your kids who have just finished school or university."
SHAH ALAM – Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers and fresh graduates are increasingly becoming prime targets for recruitment into scamming operations.
This alarming trend has been highlighted by Commercial Crime Investigations Department Assistant Director ACP Lai Lee Ching, who sheds light on the methods and organisation of these criminal activities.
In a panel discussion, Lai reminded parents and guardians to pay attention to their child who is waiting for a job opportunity.
"Parents, please pay attention to your kids who have just finished school or university.
"It takes a long time to find a stable or good job, so they are particularly vulnerable to being recruited as scammers," she said during a panel discussion entitled ‘Trust in the Age of Digital-Everything – War Against Scam’ held at CelcomDigi Hub, last month.
Lai revealed that the majority of these 'frontliners' are young people aged 18 to 30.
"When you receive a scam call from a call centre, the person on the other end is usually a frontline—these are the individuals who initiate the first steps of scamming," she said.
Lai said these operations are often highly organised and include recruiters who specifically target individuals to sell their bank accounts.
"This is why we sometimes see people daringly offering their bank accounts online. If you see this, please inform the police," she said.
Another subset of scammers involves individuals who collect and transfer money, often following a script and standard operating procedures.
Despite numerous arrests by the police, Lai said the problem persisted due to many scammers operating from overseas.
"Some teenagers tell their parents they are working overseas, but where and what job? This is the challenge we face due to borders. The only way is to be vigilant," she said.
Lai added that scammers were highly organised and employed various specialised methods to target specific groups.
The police had been monitoring different types of scams, including love scams, e-shopping or e-commerce scams, and investment scams.
"Investment scams typically target those who have been working for around 10 years and retirees with significant savings.
"E-shopping scams often target students, housewives, and younger individuals, while love scams can affect anyone, including lonely men and women," she said.
Meanwhile, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) BNMLink Manager Vijayadurai Singgatore said BNM had also been active in combating these scams.
In the panel discussion, he shared the anonymous nature of scammers and the difficulty in identifying them.
"Scammers have no face; they are countless on social media. However, law enforcement agencies are working together to identify the masterminds.
"Recent amendments to the Penal Code now allow for specific charges against 'mule account holders' who receive funds from victims," he said.
Commenting further, the Malaysiakini Operations Head Tham Seen Hau discussed the difficulties in combating these scams.
"Legal systems, financial relations, and political and diplomatic relations all vary, making it difficult to navigate. Technology is evolving rapidly, creating constant debates about industry ethics," Tham explained.
Tham also highlighted the vulnerability of certain demographics, adding that senior citizens often struggle to keep up with the technology.
"Senior citizens and people in rural areas are particularly at risk because they often struggle to keep up with technology," she said.
