Malaysia sees alarming 97% spike in e-commerce crime cases, with losses exceeding RM110 million as police warn of common scam tactics.
KUALA LUMPUR: E-commerce crimes in Malaysia have surged by 97% during the first ten months of this year, with 12,297 cases recorded from January to October.
Total losses reached RM110.3 million, marking a 105% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK).
In a Facebook statement, JSJK explained that e-commerce crimes involve fraud in online transactions where criminals use various deceptive tactics.
“Common tactics include offering goods at prices that are too low, refusing to provide clear business information, and using personal accounts for payment,” the department stated.
Criminals frequently create fake reviews, pressure buyers into immediate payments, and use websites with weak security features.
Goods are typically never delivered after payment is made in most cases.
JSJK advised the public to exercise caution when making online purchases and avoid suspicious sellers.
Transactions should only be conducted through official e-commerce platforms with strong security systems, not personal accounts.
The public is encouraged to verify sellers’ backgrounds through the semakmule.rmp.gov.my portal to check if bank accounts or phone numbers have been linked to previous fraud cases. – Bernama
