Scam calls have been a prevalent issue in Malaysia for many years. It is even more alarming during this time of uncertainty, where people are desperate to make ends meet.
According to statistics from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), 5,218 scam cases were reported between January to October 2020, with a total loss of RM 256 million from its victims.
Knowing this, Truecaller, the leading Caller ID and spam blocking app is stepping into this region. The Swedish-based company aims to make communications safe and efficient by unveiling the identity of each incoming call.
Since the lockdowns were implemented worldwide, spam calls saw an overall decrease.
However, activity has increased by 9.7% per month from May onwards. October recorded the highest number of spam calls with a 22.4% increase, based on a recent analysis by Truecaller.
Data shows that 97% of all spam calls in Malaysia come from domestic numbers. The biggest decrease of spam calls was in the months of March and April, when strict curfews and lockdown was implemented in the country. And this has probably to do with quarantines and curfews, which limited access to certain equipment and technologies for telemarketers and scammers.
Truecaller data also shows that spam calls from financial services (95%) and insurance (50%) related calls have increased in the past year, while almost every fourth spam call is scam related.
Sadly, many of the fraudsters prey on the elderly, children, and housewives.
Scammers exploit these groups of people by disguising themselves as their loved ones and authority figures. Over a short conversation, the victim families fall into their trap by giving out their hard-earned money.
Kim Fai Kok, Director of Communications said: “We studied and noted the amount of scam activity that is happening in the Southeast Asian region, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, and realized the need to bring the app to this part of the world as well.
Of course, we hope to work together with other stakeholders to really make Truecaller a part of scam prevention. The app is capable of protecting so many people from falling victims to malicious callers. We read the news of all the people who have lost their life savings, and strongly believe that Truecaller can do a lot of good in the region.”
Photo via Clark Howard
Since 2009, Truecaller has made a significant impact on many lives- the app has assisted law enforcement agencies to fight crimes and even save lives. In one account, a mother used Truecaller to locate her kidnapped daughter.
With over 250 million active users on the platform, numbers are reported in real-time to ensure everyone is always protected against unwanted calls.
Be vigilant against phone scams, guys! If you receive a call or message you think is a scam, never respond to the call!
Stay safe!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
