By: Zaidul Khair bin Jungkim
KOTA KINABALU: Sept 21, 2026 – Phone calls using numbers that appear to be official numbers are not necessarily trustworthy because criminals are able to falsify phone numbers through spoofing call techniques.
Through this modus operandi, criminals impersonate authorities, banks or government agencies to frighten victims before obtaining personal information, banking information or money.
The public must remain calm when receiving suspicious calls, end the call and not be easily deceived.
The 3S concept of Soal, Sekat, Sebar (Question, Block, Spread) can also be practised to avoid becoming a victim.
Soal means the act of checking the validity of the information conveyed. Sekat means not sharing personal or banking information. Sebar is the act of sharing information on the modus operandi with the authorities or friends.
If you become a victim, contact the bank hotline to stop suspicious transactions. Victims can also contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the 997 line, and lodge a police report for further action.
Source: Keningau District Police
