Kuching: A recent scam case involving a victim who lost RM116,700 has once again raised serious questions about banks’ responsibility and the adequacy of their security measures in protecting consumers from online fraud.
According to Michael Kong Feng Nian, Special Assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, the scammer managed to withdraw RM50,000 through ten consecutive RM5,000 transactions in a single day, followed by further withdrawals the next day – all without the bank flagging the activity as suspicious or taking preventive action.
“This incident highlights a worrying gap in the banks’ monitoring systems. With the technology and data analytics available today, financial institutions should have automated systems that detect abnormal transaction patterns and trigger security alerts or temporary holds pending customer verification.
“The failure to do so not only exposes customers to severe financial losses but also undermines public confidence in the banking system,” he said in a statement.
Explained the case, Kong said, a woman in Kuching has fallen victim to an elaborate online scam, losing RM116,700 over two days after interacting with a fraudulent food delivery advertisement on Facebook.
According to Kong, the victim, identified as Madam Ang, had come across a Facebook post on 5 October 2025 promoting nutritious home-cooked meals.
“Upon clicking the advertisement, she was redirected to WhatsApp to contact the supposed seller.
“Shortly after messaging the seller, she received a WhatsApp call and was told that the food menu would be sent to her. While still on the call, a new icon appeared on her phone, which she assumed contained the menu,” Kong said.
He said, Madam Ang opened the file briefly but found the app difficult to use and deleted it soon after.
“Later that day, she was alerted by a friend that her WhatsApp account was being used to solicit money from her contacts. Suspecting foul play, she checked her bank account and discovered that RM116,700 had been withdrawn over two days – RM50,000 on 5 October and RM66,700 on 6 October,” he said.
Kong said, a police report has been lodged, and the matter has been reported to the bank, added that his office will assist the victim, Madam Ang, in seeking answers and accountability from the bank involved.
At the same time, he urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown applications, especially from social media or messaging platforms.
