Perak police launch anti-fraud campaign as student scams surge past RM300K

Perak police launch anti-fraud campaign as student scams surge past RM300K

Christine Miller
Christine Miller
1 Min.
Brightly colored poster with blue background and white text titled "How to Avoid Student Loan Scams," featuring a student illustration with a magnifying glass and a list of steps to avoid scams.

Perak police launch anti-fraud campaign as student scams surge past RM300K

Perak police have raised concerns over a sharp rise in online fraud targeting university students. Between January and April 2023, 61 cases were reported, with total losses exceeding RM303,000. Authorities are now taking steps to educate students on avoiding such scams. Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin, Perak’s police chief, launched a new educational module at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP). The programme, titled Module On The Current Trends of Commercial Crimes, focuses on preventing fraud among students.

The initiative comes after police identified students as the primary victims of online scams in the state. Common fraud methods include fake phone calls, e-commerce tricks, bogus investments, and loan schemes.

From January to April this year, 61 students fell victim to these scams, losing a combined RM303,372.36. The module aims to raise awareness and teach students how to spot and avoid financial deception. The new module will provide practical guidance on recognising and preventing commercial crimes. Police hope it will reduce the number of student victims in Perak. The total financial losses so far highlight the urgency of the campaign.