KUALA LUMPUR – Not long after the COVID-19 vaccine landed on Malaysia’s shores, online scammers have begun to advertise and sell fake vaccines to unwitting victims on social media.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) director Dato’ Zainuddin Yaacob said that it has received two reports of this scam amounting to a whopping RM285,499.95 today.
He added that JSJK will investigate the reports under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
“As announced by the government, the COVID-19 vaccine will be made free for all Malaysian residents. Therefore, the selling of vaccines by any party is an irresponsible and fraudulent act.”
Initial investigations by JSJK revealed that criminals had used a company’s name to advertise and sell the vaccines on various social media platforms.
Although the said company has come forward to clarify, the police does not rule out the possibility of more fake vaccines being sold online in the future.
Dato’ Zainuddin urged the public to be wary of irresponsible parties trying to “fish in troubled waters ” (menangguk di air keruh) and only obtain accurate information from announcements and updates issued by the government from time to time in regards to the national immunisation program.
You can view the full statement here:
Sources: FB/ Polis Diraja Malaysia ( Royal Malaysia Police )
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
