KUCHING: SUPP Public Complaints Bureau Chief, Milton Foo warned the public of a new scam tactic where fraudsters trick victims into calling them instead of making the first move.
“The whole idea is to make victims believe they must contact the scammers, which then traps them in the scheme,” Foo explained.
He revealed that a Batu Kawa resident recently received a fake court order claiming he owed more than RM14,000, with instructions to call the so-called judicial department. The scam attempt was thwarted when the victim sought Foo’s advice, who confirmed it was fraudulent.
Foo added that the same victim later received another letter, this time from a law firm in Kuala Lumpur, claiming it was a ‘final reminder’ and urging him to call a listed telephone number.
“After checking, I found the lawyer’s name was genuine but the number was not from the actual law firm. When I contacted the firm, they told me the lawyer had gone overseas on September 25. Since then, three similar cases have surfaced — two in West Malaysia and one in Sarawak — all misusing the same law firm’s name,” Foo said.
He urged authorities to take stern action against scammers, stressing that landline numbers provided in such letters should be traced.
Foo also advised the public not to panic upon receiving suspicious letters from courts or legal firms. “There are many ways to verify whether the letters are real. Victims can also approach me for assistance in checking their authenticity,” he assured.
By Connie Chieng