What is the new voice imitation scam targeting Malaysians?

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New Voice Imitation Scam Targets Malaysians by Mimicking Friends and Family

Online fraudsters are employing a new modus operandi by imitating the voices of victims' friends and family members to trick them into sending money. This scam involves the perpetrators contacting individuals, claiming to use a new phone number, and then requesting funds for a supposed loan. Victims typically only realize they have been deceived when they attempt to verify the request through the original contact numbers of their acquaintances.
Fraudsters Create a False Sense of Familiarity

The scam begins with the fraudsters introducing themselves to the potential victim, often under the guise of a familiar voice. They then inform the victim that they are using a new telephone number, establishing a pretext for the altered communication channel. This initial step is crucial in lulling the victim into a false sense of security, making them more susceptible to the subsequent requests.
Deceptive Loan Requests and Misappropriated Bank Accounts

Following the introduction and explanation for the new number, the fraudsters provide bank account details for the requested "loan." Significantly, these account numbers do not belong to the friends or family members whose voices were imitated. This misdirection is central to the scam, as it allows the perpetrators to divert funds directly into their own accounts rather than to the intended, albeit impersonated, recipient.
Discovery of Deception Through Verification

The ruse is usually uncovered when the victim attempts to confirm the loan request or speak with their friend or family member on their established, original phone number. Upon making contact through the usual channels, the victim learns that their friend or family member never made such a request, revealing the fraudulent nature of the communication. This verification step highlights the importance of maintaining contact through known, trusted methods.
Significant Financial Losses and Reported Cases

This voice imitation scam is part of a broader trend of disguise-related fraud. Authorities have opened 20 investigation papers specifically for crimes utilizing disguise as a modus operandi, resulting in total losses amounting to RM250,000. More broadly, from January until the time of the report, 78 cyber and multimedia crime reports were received, with total losses nearing RM7 million, indicating a substantial financial impact from various online fraudulent activities.

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What is the new voice imitation scam targeting Malaysians?

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