Malaysians most gullible, prone to falling for online scams: study

 

The multimarket Internet Scams study aimed to gain a better understanding of the more common online rackets by polling 400 users aged 18 to 65 in four countries – Malaysia, India, Singapore and Thailand. Of these, Malaysia unfortunately tops the list with 46 per cent of respondents saying they had been victims of Internet scams, followed closely by Thailand at 43 per cent.

 

Worryingly, this figure could be just the tip of the iceberg as a further 46 per cent of Malaysian respondents – all of whom classified themselves as Internet users averaging nearly 10 hours per day on the Web – said they knew a friend or family member who has been scammed online.

 

“This survey is a good barometer on Internet scams in Malaysia, and areas that should be addressed,” said Telenor Group’s social responsibility head Ola Jo Tandre.

 

Hot button issue

 

Online safety is a growing concern with more than half of those surveyed (54 per cent) stating they are “very concerned” with online scams – that’s more than those concerned with mugging (45 per cent) and stalking (42 per cent).

 

The study also found that one in five people have been victims of Internet auction and online dating scams, and one in 10 had their Facebook accounts hacked.

 

The largest percentage of Malaysian scam victims had fallen for the fraudulent “work from home” scheme – a scam where users are either fooled into paying someone online to help them start a business, or undertake work but never receive payment.

 

Many online shoppers also reported getting swindled by unscrupulous sellers – almost a quarter had experienced Internet auction fraud, where they purchase an item online and never receive it.

 

And finally, Malaysians were also victims of online dating scams, where a scammer creates a fake profile on an online dating site to elicit money.

 

Of those who have been targeted by online scams in Malaysia, six in 10 have had their wallets hit, with the average financial loss sustained per person about 7,050 ringgit (US$1,730).

 

However, the study notes that the amount of money lost by Malaysians is significantly smaller in comparison to other surveyed nations – the regional average for those who incurred financial losses due to scams is a whopping 41,870 ringgit.

 

Despite these staggering figures, Malaysians on the whole acknowledge the benefits of a readily available Internet with 90 per cent agreeing that the Internet has improved their lives, and 81 per cent attributing strengthened relationships with friends and family due to the Net.

 

With so much at stake, creating awareness and educating Web surfers is paramount to prevent more from falling for online scams.

 

Staying safe online

 

Though the danger – and repercussions – of online scams are very real, it is relatively simple to avoid falling prey to them. It may seem old news to more experienced users, but since so many still fall prey to online scams, these tips bear repeating:

 

1. Delete suspicious and untrustworthy e-mail messages.

 

2. Ignore advertisements that appear “too good to be true”.

 

3. Always update your anti-malware software.

 

4. Research scams online.

 

5. Disseminate information and share preventive tips with friends and family via social media.

 

“We hope the findings from this digital consumer study will encourage all Malaysians to be proactive in educating themselves to stay safe online, so they can enjoy the internet’s opportunities,” says Tandre.