Abang Johari (centre) ready to strike the gong to mark the opening ceremony of InvestSmart@Sarawak 2022 in Kuching as Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian (left) and Awang Adek look on. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING (Sept 17): Almost 72,000 scam cases were reported from 2020 to May this year in the country, amounting to RM5.2 billion in losses.
According to Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin, investment scams accounted for close to 12,000 out of the overall number.
“Similarly, the SC has noted a substantial increase in complaints and enquiries on scams and unlicensed activities, particularly between 2020 and June 2022.
“In 2020, the SC received almost 1,800 complaints and enquiries, and in 2021, this figure increased to nearly 3,500.
“In the first half of this year, we have received 1,350 complaints and enquiries about scams and unlicensed activities,” he said at the opening ceremony of ‘InvestSmart@Sarawak 2022’ in VivaCity Megamall here today, where Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated at the event.
Awang Adek also cautioned the public about most scammers using social media channels such as WhatsApp and Facebook to target and lure in their victims.
He said recently, the Telegram channel had also been used to carry out illegal activities.
“Typically before parting with their money, people would conduct careful search, or get second opinions and…
