Public urged to report scams, cyber crime

DESPITE having recorded 15 cases of fraud relating to financial crime during 2008-2009, with the most common being via text messaging, many people were still reluctant to report suspected scams or contact the police for advice on suspicion of being a victim of fraud, a senior police officer told The Brunei Times on Friday.

Senior Investigation Officer P/ASP Ak Omar Ali Pg Hj Manshor at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Commercial Crime Investigation Division assured The Brunei Times that all public calls made to the division were confidential and that the public should not be afraid of contacting them to report any suspicions of fraud schemes.

He explained that if a person believes he or she is being targeted by a text messaging or email scam, the division could only give advice on how not to fall prey to the trap, unless he or she had already fallen victim to it.

"The public can always call our division for advice pertaining to fraud or cyber crime. It is better to talk to us first no matter what, before lodging a police report," Ak Omar Ali said.

He explained that people who had fallen victim to a fraud should lodge a police report at the nearest police station.

Only after the report had been filed can the division investigate the matter.

"First off, we will interview the complainant and gather details of how the scam came about. If we track the source of the scam to a foreigner, then we will seek assistance from Interpol," he said.

However, Ak Omar Ali said there were challenges in pursuing investigations abroad. "Jurisdiction is one of our challenges, because different countries have different laws," he said.

The senior investigation officer added that the division may not be able to continue an investigation, depending on the law in the countries involved.

Most of the time, the senior investigation officer said, perpetrators were foreigners who did not reside in the Sultanate. "That is why people should be aware of receiving text messages from (foreign) numbers, and not respond to them. This also applies to receiving emails from people they are not aware of," he added.

Ak Omar Ali advised the public not to simply open up "junk emails", as there have been foreign reports of perpetrators who have "stolen" information from the receiver's computer, upon (the receiver) clicking on an icon in the junk email.

Also, he advised parents to monitor what websites their children were visiting, stressing on the importance of awareness.

Similarly, Senior Counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) Ahmad Jefri Rahman said the cheapest and potentially most effective way of fighting text messaging and cyber fraud was by increasing public awareness so that people are not as vulnerable in falling prey to the scams.

"Prevention is the best cure," he said, adding, "The message to give everyone is to just avoid being a victim of cyber crime."

Ahmad Jefri explained how the public should not underestimate the impact of public awareness, and that it should start with students at schools. "Anyone who has knowledge on these things can provide the awareness," he said.

The Commercial Crime Investigation Division currently has five trained personnel, including Ak Omar Ali, who have been specifically trained to combat cyber crime and fraud.

For advice about fraud and cyber crime, contact the Criminal Investigation Department at 2232001-7 ext 818, from 8am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays.The Brunei Times