Posted by
wetbenang
at
Thursday, March 08, 2007
THE RAIN IN THE PLAINS DOES NOT FALL ON THE BRAIN
For money, Malaysians would do stupid, irrational things. Whenever they see the RM or $ sign, people would just switch off their brains (or whatever little grey cells that they have) and let their greed take over.
Take the recent SMS fraud cases for example. I mean, what right-thinking individuals would part with thousands and thousands of ringgit of their money just because someone at the other end of the phone instructs them to?
The MO for the latest fraud is very simple. The con would SMS you with a message that you have just won some money in a lucky draw or some contest somewhere. To receive your entire winning, you must first deposit some money into a specified bank account.
This odd "rule" should trigger something in the mind of a normal, average Joe, kan? But not our poor, clueless, ignorant and gullible lot. They just happily follow the instruction, and these idiots and their money are soon parted ...
Why, you ask. Depa tak baca ka? Like, the fraud cases are highlighted in the news everyday -- TV, radio, newspapers. Mana depa pi, tak dengaq ka? Yet, people keep on getting duped.
The most recent involves PETRONAS. On 5 March, the national oil company issued the following announcement:
"NO PETRONAS’ SIM CARD LUCKY DRAW OR CONTEST
It has been brought to PETRONAS’ attention that certain parties have been sending text messages to mobile phone users informing them that their SIM cards have won a RM10,000 lucky draw prize from PETRONAS. Receivers of the text message have also been advised to call a number with an Indonesian country code.
PETRONAS wishes to inform that none of its companies has organised any such mobile phone SIM card lucky draws or contests and would like to advise members of the public not to respond to such text messages.
PETRONAS has also communicated with the authorities on this matter."
It has been brought to PETRONAS’ attention that certain parties have been sending text messages to mobile phone users informing them that their SIM cards have won a RM10,000 lucky draw prize from PETRONAS. Receivers of the text message have also been advised to call a number with an Indonesian country code.
PETRONAS wishes to inform that none of its companies has organised any such mobile phone SIM card lucky draws or contests and would like to advise members of the public not to respond to such text messages.
PETRONAS has also communicated with the authorities on this matter."
The following day, the police divulged that at least three people had been cheated after they received a SMS notifying them of their "big win". The SMS said: "Pengumuman dari PETRONAS Malaysia. TAHNIAH! SimCard Anda Memenangi Undian bertuah hadiah Cek Tunai RM 10.000. Sila hubungi: 00628881382736. Terima kasih."
When the "winners" (losers, they all are) called this Indonesian phone number, they were instructed to deposit some money in a bank account. According to the police, the first victim lost RM999, the second RM1,000 and the third parted with RM1,985.
I don't know lah. When are people going to realise that there's no such thing as easy money? You have to work to earn your keep and not expect the money to fall from the sky.
Like I always say, orang tamak selalu rugi.
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