Perak: A total of 61 cases of online fraud involving university students in Perak were recorded from January to April this year, resulting in losses amounting to RM303,372.36. Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin revealed this alarming statistic during a media conference held at Universiti Teknologi Petronas's (UTP) Chancellor's Hall.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the types of fraud affecting these students included phone call scams, e-commerce fraud, investment schemes, and fraudulent loans. Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin emphasized the emerging vulnerability of university students to such scams, noting that this demographic is increasingly becoming a primary target for cybercriminals. "If previously this group was viewed as less exposed, the data we have obtained shows that university students are currently the main group targeted by criminals," he stated.

The media conference also marked the launch of a new initiative titled 'Module On The Current Trends of Commercial Crimes,' a collaborative effort between the Perak police and UTP. This program aims to enhance public awareness of commercial crime, particularly among university students. The module highlights the latest trends in commercial crime, which are evolving alongside digital technology advancements, and stresses the need for more proactive prevention strategies.

Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin expressed hope that such educational initiatives would empower students to recognize fraudulent tactics, enabling them to act as information disseminators within their communities. "Such programmes can hopefully make students more aware of fraud tactics and they can be agents to deliver information to friends and their respective communities," he added.