‘Proactive intervention can strengthen existing anti-fraud measures’

PETALING JAYA: Giving police powers to intervene in scams will give them additional tools, says a civil society group.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) vice-president Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham also said the country has initiatives such as the National Scam Response Center (NSRC) to tackle scams.

“We need proactive intervention to complement current measures,” she said when asked about the feasibility of introducing a law that would give police the power to freeze banking transactions to protect scam victims.

“We need to seriously consider this proposal, but such legislation must balance an individual’s right to privacy.

“This measure will be good to tackle scams, such as love scams, that spread over a longer period of time.

“If the police discover a suspicious transaction abroad, they can intervene and help,” he said.

Cybersecurity specialist Fong Choong Fook said he supported the Singapore government’s decision to allow police to seize bank accounts.

“If you give the police absolute power and authority, the police don’t necessarily have to enforce it and they don’t necessarily have to use it.

“However, when the critical moment comes, at least they have the authority and can take quick action to prevent scams,” he said.

Although the island republic is on the right track, Fong does not think Malaysia should immediately follow suit.

“We can see how Singapore implements it,” he said.

While Singapore’s proposed law is a good tool to combat fraud, Fong says Malaysia has the NSRC.

“While local police have no authority to access bank accounts, they have an existing partnership with banks to curb and prevent scams (through the NSRC),” he said.

“It is more efficient and logical to use the NSRC because the police can work closely with the banks and provide instructions on suspected fraudulent transactions.”

Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Thief (Marah) founder Dave Avran said some victims refused to accept that they had been scammed as a coping mechanism.

Even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, victims avoid facing the truth, he said.

“Admitting that they were defrauded not only indicates bad choices, it also makes them feel humiliated and vulnerable,” he said.

Avran said scams are not just financial; they are also psychological and emotional in nature.

Because of the psychological bond created between the victim and the scammer as a result of emotional manipulation, the victim will find it difficult to admit that he or she has been deceived, he said.

“This is common in cases of romance scams, where scammers take advantage of the victim’s emotional vulnerability,” he said.