Perak police launch anti-fraud program after students lose RM300K to scams

Perak police have launched a new initiative to tackle rising online fraud among university students. The module, titled Current Trends of Commercial Crimes, was introduced at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) to raise awareness and prevent financial losses. Students have become the primary targets for scammers in the state, with 61 cases reported in early 2023 alone. From January to April 2023, 61 university students in Perak fell victim to online scams. The fraudsters used phone calls, fake e-commerce deals, bogus investments, and loan schemes to trick their targets. Combined losses from these cases reached RM303,372.36.

To combat the issue, Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin unveiled the new educational module at UTP. The programme focuses on teaching students how to recognise and avoid commercial crimes. Authorities hope it will reduce the number of victims by improving public vigilance.

The module will be rolled out to raise awareness, particularly among young adults. With fraud cases costing students over RM300,000 this year, police are pushing for wider education on scam tactics. The initiative aims to cut financial losses and protect vulnerable groups from falling prey to deception.