Tawau: A total of 149 commercial crime cases were reported to the police here last year, with losses estimated at RM98.7 million, said Tawau district police chief ACP Jasmin Hussin. He said that phone scams were the most prevalent type of commercial crime, with 45 cases recorded.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, victims of these scams included well-educated individuals. Therefore, ACP Jasmin advised the public to conduct business dealings directly at the relevant offices, rather than relying on phone calls from purported government departments. He emphasized the importance of reporting such scams to the police, as it would facilitate investigations and help authorities track down the criminals or take action through financial institutions and other channels.

Jasmin highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the police and the local Education Department to raise public awareness about the dangers of phone scams and encourage vigilance against such crimes. He urged the public to share information through media channels like the Tawau Police Facebook page to educate others on commercial crime prevention.

He also noted a decrease in overall crime cases, with 650 cases reported last year, down from 795 cases in the previous year, with 470 cases brought to the Tawau Court.