(Kuching, 8th) Bank scams are becoming increasingly rampant, with even a former police officer's bank account hacked by scammers, resulting in the painful loss of nearly RM50,000 in savings overnight!
A former police officer, Mr. Loh, had his Maybank savings account hacked by scammers, who within just 24 hours transferred nearly RM50,000 out of his account in five separate transactions. The victim suspects that his mobile phone was hacked, leading to this incident.
According to information received, between noon on August 2 and the early morning of August 3 this year, almost RM48,999.99 was unauthorizedly transferred out of Mr. Loh's Maybank savings account within this 24-hour period, without his knowledge, by unknown individuals using unauthorized methods. Upon discovering irregularities in his account, the victim immediately contacted Maybank on August 3, requesting the bank to urgently freeze the account and block the unauthorized transactions. However, it was already too late, and the bank was unable to stop the transfers; his hard-earned money had already been lost, with no way to recover it.
Facing futile claims to the bank and feeling helpless, the victim had no choice but to seek help from Sarawak DAP state assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, hoping for justice and to recover his savings.
After understanding the case, Chong Chieng Jen has written on the victim's behalf to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and has also filed a complaint with Bank Negara regarding the case, calling on the central bank to take the matter seriously and help the victim recover his lost hard-earned money.
In his letter, Chong Chieng Jen pointed out that as early as 2022, Bank Negara had proposed, for the first transfer, to set up a "cooling-off period" mechanism as one of the measures to combat online banking scams and unauthorized transactions, and this recommendation was personally announced by the then Governor of Bank Negara.
Furthermore, Chong Chieng Jen emphasized that Prime Minister Anwar has repeatedly stated in and outside Parliament that if a bank is negligent in handling unauthorized transactions resulting in losses to account holders, the bank must bear responsibility and compensate the affected account holders.
"If banks have not implemented the cooling-off period mechanism proposed by Bank Negara, does this constitute negligence by the banks? If so, should the banks not compensate the victims for their losses?"
Therefore, Chong Chieng Jen urges the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, and Bank Negara to pay serious attention to this matter, launch an investigation, and swiftly assist Mr. Loh in recovering his stolen hard-earned money. Meanwhile, Bank Negara must put pressure on local banks to further strengthen their security measures, to prevent more people's hard-earned savings from falling into the hands of scam syndicates.
Nevertheless, Chong Chieng Jen stated that he will continue to follow up on Mr. Loh's case and provide all necessary assistance.
A former police officer, Mr. Loh, had his Maybank savings account hacked by scammers, who within just 24 hours transferred nearly RM50,000 out of his account in five separate transactions. The victim suspects that his mobile phone was hacked, leading to this incident.
According to information received, between noon on August 2 and the early morning of August 3 this year, almost RM48,999.99 was unauthorizedly transferred out of Mr. Loh's Maybank savings account within this 24-hour period, without his knowledge, by unknown individuals using unauthorized methods. Upon discovering irregularities in his account, the victim immediately contacted Maybank on August 3, requesting the bank to urgently freeze the account and block the unauthorized transactions. However, it was already too late, and the bank was unable to stop the transfers; his hard-earned money had already been lost, with no way to recover it.
Facing futile claims to the bank and feeling helpless, the victim had no choice but to seek help from Sarawak DAP state assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, hoping for justice and to recover his savings.
After understanding the case, Chong Chieng Jen has written on the victim's behalf to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and has also filed a complaint with Bank Negara regarding the case, calling on the central bank to take the matter seriously and help the victim recover his lost hard-earned money.
In his letter, Chong Chieng Jen pointed out that as early as 2022, Bank Negara had proposed, for the first transfer, to set up a "cooling-off period" mechanism as one of the measures to combat online banking scams and unauthorized transactions, and this recommendation was personally announced by the then Governor of Bank Negara.
Furthermore, Chong Chieng Jen emphasized that Prime Minister Anwar has repeatedly stated in and outside Parliament that if a bank is negligent in handling unauthorized transactions resulting in losses to account holders, the bank must bear responsibility and compensate the affected account holders.
"If banks have not implemented the cooling-off period mechanism proposed by Bank Negara, does this constitute negligence by the banks? If so, should the banks not compensate the victims for their losses?"
Therefore, Chong Chieng Jen urges the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, and Bank Negara to pay serious attention to this matter, launch an investigation, and swiftly assist Mr. Loh in recovering his stolen hard-earned money. Meanwhile, Bank Negara must put pressure on local banks to further strengthen their security measures, to prevent more people's hard-earned savings from falling into the hands of scam syndicates.
Nevertheless, Chong Chieng Jen stated that he will continue to follow up on Mr. Loh's case and provide all necessary assistance.