Don't be so hard on yourself! Police Miri has been using deceitful tactics.

A total of 673 cases of fraud were reported in Miri district from January to September 2026, resulting in a loss of about RM18 million.

Miri Regional Police Chief, ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, said 727 cases of fraud were reported throughout 2025 with total losses estimated at RM32 million.

He said various modes of operation are used by criminals to seduce victims, including online shopping fraud, unlicensed money lending, fake investments, face-to-face fraud, love fraud and part-time job offers.

In Sembang Podcast TVS with journalist Vanessa Enjop, she explained the tactics used by criminals and the steps society should take to avoid becoming a victim.

Here's a quote from the interview.

Question: What are the statistics of fraud cases recorded in Miri?

Mohd Farhan: During January to December 2025, a total of 727 cases were reported with total losses estimated at RM32 million.

For January to September 2026, a total of 673 cases were reported with losses estimated at RM18 million.
Fraud takes many forms, whether it's through phone calls, social media or face-to-face deals.

Q: What kind of online fraud is common in Miri?

Mohd Farhan: Among the most frequently reported are fraudulent car sales via Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Criminals typically advertise cars or motorcycles at much cheaper prices than the market price to attract buyers.

After the victim contacts them via WhatsApp, the victim is asked to pay a deposit, road tax or various additional charges. Even though the money was paid, the promised vehicle wasn't delivered.

There are also cases where the victim physically sees a vehicle and meets the actual owner, but payments are made to other individuals who advertise the vehicle.

After payment is made, the actual owner announces that he has not received the money. It was then that the victim realized he had been deceived.

The public is advised to deal directly with the real owner and use a platform of sale that has adequate protection.

Miri District Police Chief, ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah during the Sembang Podcast TVS program with journalist Vanessa Enjop

Q: What about online loan fraud?

Mohd Farhan: Generally speaking, there are two types of loans that are often reported, namely unlicensed or e-along lending and counterfeit loans that don't actually exist.

For e-alongs, victims are usually attracted to simple loan offers without the need for a lot of paperwork. Some people just ask for an ID before the victim is asked to download a specific link or app.

For example, the victim may only receive RM1,200 from a loan of RM2,000 because RM800 was cut in advance. After that, the victim must make a payment under the stipulated conditions.

When the victim fails to pay or refuses to continue payment, they begin to be punished. Criminals can use family photos, home addresses and victim contact information to intimidate them.

There were also more serious threats, including painting and dropping petrol bombs on the victim's home.

For counterfeit loans, the victim is required to pay various processing fees, credit eligibility increases and contract fees. Even though thousands of ringgit had been paid, the promised loan was never received.

The public is advised to make loans through legal and licensed financial institutions or lenders.

Question: Why can investment fraud cause huge losses?

Mohd Farhan: Investment fraud usually offers high returns in a short period of time. Among the often-observed targets are those who want to increase their monthly income after retirement.

In the early stages, victims may invest in small amounts and receive returns to build confidence in the scheme.

After the victims believed, they were encouraged to invest in larger amounts with a promise of double profits.

Victims are also shown graphs or displays of profits in a particular platform so that they believe the investment actually yields returns.

However, when the victim wants to withdraw money, they are told that the investment is still ongoing or must make additional payments.

In Miri, there was a case of investment fraud which caused the victim to suffer losses up to about RM500,000.

People need to be careful with extraordinary profit offers and not make investment decisions based solely on testimonials or online profit displays.

Question: What is the modus operandi of face-to-face fraud that society needs to know?

Mohd Farhan: Among the reported cases were fraud using lottery tickets or fake prediction numbers.
In this mode of operation, victims are usually approached by individuals who claim to have a winning predictive number ticket, but cannot claim the prize for specific reasons, such as not having a local bank account.

The victim was then persuaded to help claim the prize by promising a decent commission.
The suspect asks the victim to withdraw a deposit before handing over tickets that are said to be worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit.

After receiving the money, the suspect disappeared. The victim only detects the fraud when the ticket is checked and found to be fake.

Another mode of operation is targeting gold citizens, especially when they're in the market. Victims are told their fate or feng shui is not good and offered help to change the fate.

The suspect then asks the victim to hand over jewelry or money for wrapping in cloth. When the packaging is opened after a specified period, the valuable item has been replaced with paper or other material.

Question: How can the public identify phone calls that disguise themselves as government agencies?

Mohd Farhan: People should not panic if they receive calls from individuals claiming to be police officers, court officials, Internal Revenue Service or Customs, especially when they say bank accounts or phone numbers are involved in money laundering activities.

Among the suspicious signs is when a claimant can link calls from one agency to another government agency to resolve a case.

Don't keep believing the accusations or obeying orders to transfer money.

The public can check suspicious bank account numbers and phone numbers through the portal or Royal Malaysian Police Mule Check (PDRM) app, if such information is available.

Most importantly, don't click on links whose source is unknown, especially those sent via WhatsApp or social media.

Question: What action should be taken if someone has already transferred money to a fraudster?

Mohd Farhan: Victims should act immediately by contacting the National Scams Response Centre (NSRC) on 997.

Information such as bank name, account number, time of transaction and amount of money transferred should be provided to assist with follow-up action.

The victim should also contact the bank immediately to notify the transaction and get help blocking the transaction or account, if still possible.

After that, the victim has to go to the police station to make an official report.

The sooner action is taken, the better the chance to help track cash flows and reduce losses, even if returns are not guaranteed.

Q: Why does the donkey account complicate police investigations?

Mohd Farhan: Criminals usually do not use bank accounts or phone numbers registered in their own name.

Instead, they use accounts belonging to other individuals that are rented out, sold or passed on to third parties.

The situation complicates the investigation as police have to identify account holders and obtain evidence from individuals involved, including those in Sabah, Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia.

The public, especially young people, are warned not to hand over bank accounts, ATM cards or banking information to others for unknown use.

The act of allowing an account or ATM card to be used for illegal activity can carry serious implications, including legal action and the difficulty of opening a bank account in the future.

Question: Are young people being deceived?

Mohd Farhan: Yes. Young people, adolescents and housewives can also be victims, especially through part-time job offers that promise decent income.

Among the tactics used were asking victims to perform tasks such as making hotel reservations or buying items through a specific app.

At an early stage, the victim may receive a small payment or return after completing some tasks. This situation convinced them that the offer was true.

However, as the amount of tasks and money invested increased, victims were told that they could not withdraw money until all tasks were completed.

Eventually, the money displayed in the app cannot be withdrawn and the victim realizes that they have been cheated.

People should check the validity of a job offer before making any payments or using their own money to complete tasks.

Question: What are the efforts of police to raise public awareness?

Mohd Farhan: The Regional Police Headquarters (IPD) Miri is conducting various awareness-raising programs by reaching out to the community in markets, supermarkets, public areas and community programs.

The police also held exhibitions and explanatory sessions in places of worship, including churches, shops and mosques, to provide information about the modus operandi of fraud.

However, criminals constantly change tactics and use psychological approaches to urge victims to make an immediate decision.

Therefore, society needs to continue to increase knowledge about fraud and share information with family members so that more people can identify early signs of fraud.

Question: What is the advice to children for protecting their aging parents from becoming victims?

Mohd Farhan: Children need to play a role by providing explanations to parents about the fraud that happens, especially online fraud and fake investments.

There are situations where banks and police have suspected a transaction as fraud, but the victim still trusts the individual who contacted him.

In one case, a woman still wanted to withdraw her savings even though the bank, police and her son were trying to give advice.

The situation shows how powerful the criminal's influence is on the victim.

Thus, families should communicate constantly, take into account the financial affairs of parents and encourage them to get the views of family members before making large transfers or investments.

Question: What is the last message to society about avoiding being a victim of fraud?

Mohd Farhan: People should always be vigilant about the links they receive through social media, including those that look like regular ads.

In Miri, there was one case involving a businessman who reportedly lost about RM1.4 million from two current accounts after accessing links related to food and cake menus on Facebook.

The case serves as a warning that seemingly harmless links can also pose digital security risks.

The public is advised not to press unverifiable links, protect banking information and avoid storing access to accounts with large funds on devices at risk of being compromised.

Use Mule Check to make an early check, get advice from family or authorities when in doubt and don't rush to a decision just because you're being pressured.

Prevention of fraud begins with caution, knowledge and prompt action. People need to remind each other not to be easily seduced by promises of profits, easy loans or offers that seem too good to be trusted. - TVS