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Police Warn Against New ‘Court’ Scam
By Arnie PDH Ishak & Azaraimy HH

Bandar Seri Begawan - If there is one scam that continues to "mutate" to strike the gullible throughout the world, it has to be the SMS scam.

Some 15 new cases of fraud involving phone calls to lure victims have surfaced so far this month, the Royal Brunei Police Force said.

The conmen draw their victims first with an automated message and later direct them to part with their hard earned cash.

DSP Sharazuddin bin Haji Masri, in a media conference, said, "For the past two weeks, the Royal Brunei Police Force has been receiving complaints from members of the public regarding fraud involving calls that begin with an automated message."

According to the Acting Head of Public Relations unit, "The automated messages claimed to be from the Supreme Court, High Court, Brunei Embassy, Police or the Attorney General's Chambers. These callers then go on to say that the victims

have a pending case in the High Court involving loan sharks.

"Once the receiver gets into further discussions with these perpetrators, they will ask for the victim's details like full name, IC number, credit card number and bank account number. The victim is then asked to pay the fine through money transfer through a remittance agency.

"According to most of the complaints, these calls reportedly came from overseas and one of the callers spoke in an accent of an Asian country.

"This case is now under investigation," said the DSP. The police are advising the public to be wary of such calls and not to give out their personal or bank information without proper investigation/enquiry. Members of the public are also advised to report such suspicious calls, if they receive them.

The police said that this kind of calls are considered an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code and is punishable by seven years' jail sentence, a fine or both.

DSP Sharazuddin said the police are still receiving complaints regarding fraud via SMS (KDI and Nokia) stating that the receivers have won cash prize overseas. The public has been reminded not to be taken in by these offers.

"Being fully aware of these kinds of frauds or calls can save the people from becoming victims and suffer losses," he added.

According to one of the victims, she received an automated message saying that she missed a hearing at the High Court and asked her to press nine for further information.

When she pressed the key, the victim was connected to a woman claiming to be working at the Brunei High Court, who asked for personal details.

Upon hearing the woman's accent, which sounded alien to her, the victim became suspicious and hung up the phone.

According to DSP Sharazuddin, if the victims fail to smell a rat these perpetrators will ask the victims to part with their credit card numbers or ask for a money transfer through a remittance agency.

He strongly advised the public to be fully aware of these kinds of calls and not to be tricked by these dirty tactics. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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