Public warned not to fall for Internet scams

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MIRI: Police here have warned the public not to fall for Internet scams offering cash prizes through emails.

Miri police chief ACP Mun Kok Kiong stressed that the public should always verify the authenticity of such offers.

“Please check first the offers before you proceed and if they are true, there will be offer letters from the company itself and not through emails,” Mun said yesterday when commenting on the case of a so-called bonus programme for an airline.

He said such scams only aim to lure users into disclosing their bank account details.

“I warn Mirians here not to entertain any such offers by (so-called) airline companies as they do not exist,” he added.

A The Borneo Post reader, who only wished to be identified as Mohd Saruji, had received an email purporting to be from the airline’s “Exclusive High 5 Special Bonus Program”.

The email claimed that he had won RM300,000, which would be transferred to him immediately if he contacted “Metro Online Bank” with information of his funds transfer.

It also claimed that “Metro Online Bank” is a “secure, trusted and reliable bank with headquarters in London”.

“As soon as you contact them, you are to provide them the following information to enable them to transfer your funds to your account in cash,” said the email.

Sensing the email might be a scam, Mohd contacted a friend, who also told him not to entertain it.

He was also advised to lodge a police report.

An Internet check found that the actual name of the bank in London is Metro Bank Online.

A further check of the so-called programme on the airline’s website also revealed that it is indeed a scam.