KUALA LUMPUR: Online vehicle purchasing scams are on the rise with losses amounting to millions and cases from January to May are almost double when compared to the same period last year.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said 552 cases were recorded in 2019 with losses amounting to RM3.2mil.
"The cases increased some 22.8% last year to 678 cases causing RM5.9mil in losses. Between January and May this year, a total of 461 cases have already been recorded. We discovered the losses are about RM5.4mil," he said in a statement today.
For the corresponding period last year, there were 237 cases.
Comm Mohd Kamarudin said the culprits would advertise the sale of imported vehicles on social media.
"The vehicles are purportedly from Singapore, Thailand or Langkawi and offered below market price. Those who are interested in purchasing the vehicles are then told to transfer funds to a mule account to settle various matters including road tax, vehicle grant and Customs duty.
"However, after payment is made, the victim will not receive the vehicle," he said.
He advised the public to be cautious when buying cars online.
"Check the latest used car price. Go to the company selling the vehicles and inspect the vehicles yourself and deal with valid companies or agents.
"Don't easily believe advertisements offering vehicles for prices which are too low. Some of these syndicates would claim the vehicles are cheap as they are duty-exempt.
"Keep all payment and conversation records with the seller," he said.
Comm Kamarudin also reminded the public to check the bank accounts used by sellers to ensure they are not mule accounts.
"The public can access CCID's Semak Mule application and website (http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/) to check if the account is used by scammers," he said.
