By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Alliance For A Safe Community Chairman
KOTA KINABALU: Scammers targeting senior citizens are an escalating problem, syphoning off billions of ringgit annually.
Last year, some senior citizens were duped of their life savings due to greed on the part of the scammers and mostly innocence on the part of the scammers.
There are other epithets too that can be applied to describe the predator and the prey, but these will not help to resolve the problem.
Scammers are using more and more tempting ways to trick many a naïve retiree to part with his or her EPF or other savings that were accumulated over decades of working life.
While there is little hope of recovering the losses of the losers, what can be done to turn the tables on the scammers?
Community centres and NGOs can organise regular workshops to educate seniors on the new ways that scammers are being used.
Traditional media and digital platforms could be used to disseminate information about the latest scams and how to avoid them.
While most senior citizens have time on their hands, they should be encouraged to join digital literacy programmes to familiarise themselves with online platforms and recognise phishing emails and fake websites.
Encourage them to rely on trusted family members or friends for advice before making digital interactions, particularly financial transactions that promise the moon and the sky.
In extreme cases, senior citizens should minimise the use of online banking, opting instead for in-person transactions wherever possible.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see senior citizens getting together socially. When they do, they should check with each other before making financial decisions or pressing some buttons on dubious apps on their mobile phones.
And they should regularly scan the daily newspapers for stories of situations similar to what they may also be facing and to keep abreast of technological advancements.
The government should introduce stricter penalties for those accused of scamming, including stiffer jail sentences.
It should regularly update regulations and legislation to incorporate new digital ways of conducting financial transactions.
It should also make it mandatory for retail and other outlets to continue allowing traditional methods of payment even as they embrace digital currency.
Recently, I saw a video purportedly by a police officer advising the public to call 997 if they had been scammed. Can PDRM confirm that this is indeed legit?
Otherwise, can PDRM set up a hotline for this purpose?
Banks, telecom companies, and tech firms should develop and promote security measures such as scam alert systems and robust customer verification processes.
Preventing scams against senior citizens should be a joint effort that requires continuous vigilance, education, and cooperation between individuals, communities, and the government.
No one is safe until everyone is safe.
