In recent years, there has been a significant increase in telecommunications scams, with monetary losses also on the rise, involving scammers who impersonate “public security, prosecution, and court officials” – the most common scam tactic.
Lately, several telecommunication frauds have been recorded in Macau involving scammers impersonating prosecutors, according to a press release issued by the SAR’s Public Prosecutions Office.
According to the press release, in most cases, the scammers contacted the victims by telephone or online, falsely alleging that they were involved in major criminal cases and demanded their cooperation in the investigation. The call was then transferred to an accomplice posing as a “prosecutor” to gain the victim’s trust.
The scammers then instructed the victims to “deal with the case online”, “make statements via a videocall” or “share their screen”, in attempts to obtain the victims’ personal information. They also used excuses such as “under monitoring”, “pending trial on bail” or “fund vetting” to induce victims to transfer money to designated “secure accounts”.
These impersonation scams mainly exploit public members’ limited knowledge of the case handling process of the “public security, prosecution and court” authorities. Therefore, the Public Prosecutions Office alerts the public that criminal investigation, prosecution, and trial are governed by established statutory procedures and requirements, and prosecutors or judicial personnel will never conduct case investigation through informal channels such as telephone calls or social applications. Nor will they, in the course of official duties, request citizens to provide bank account passwords or verification codes, or to make transfers.
If residents receive a call from so-called “public security, prosecution or court officials” demanding a transfer to a “secure account” or a “financial vetting”, the Public Prosecutions Office has reminded the public of three important things – “Do not believe, do not transfer, and do not reveal”.
Members of the public with any questions should verify the authenticity of the call via contact details published on the official websites of the Public Prosecutions Office, the Judiciary Police and other authorities in Macau.
If anyone falls victim to a scam, they should report the incident to the police immediately.
To safeguard the property safety of the public, the Public Prosecutions Office will strictly combat all criminal activities involving the impersonation of judicial authorities in accordance with the law. Members of the public are also reminded to stay vigilant and pay attention to fraud prevention information to better protect their personal assets.
To verify any notification or information sent by the Public Prosecutions Office, contact the office at 2872 7272 or the Criminal Proceedings Office at 2872 8268.
Source: Public Prosecutions Office
Photo: Taylor Grote
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