LawEddie.com

After attending the forum of identity theft in cyberspaceon Thursday, I was shocked to see and hear the huge statistic of cases involving identity theft in cyberspace.

Though not many people being charged in Malaysian court for committing online ID theft (as compare to US ), this doesn’t mean that such cases are lesser in Malaysia. I learned that everyday the THE MALAYSIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA COMMISSION (MCMC) received 30 -40 complaints about ID theft over internet. 

It makes me think that there is no safe land in the world, be it in the real world or in the cyber world, as long as there is human being. So sad!

The reason that not many cyber theive were arrested is because it is rather hard to trace them down in the cyber world.

The rate of ID theft is increasing in the cyber world is not only because more and more people are more IT savvy now but also because cyber space is the safest space to commit crime. Just imagine, you can steal the money of the bank without using a gun…etc 

Preventions 

On another hand, this also procure me to be more alert about the disclosure of my personal particulars over internet.

I think few things we can do to prevent to be a victim:

1. try not to use full name – e.g. use Peter Lim as oppose to Lim Ket Hui

2. try not to disclose your mobile number and home address over the internet

3. clear your caches regularly, especially after performing online banking transaction

4. report to relevant webmaster if you found your ID being misused

5. never respond to unsolicited emails or click on the link where you are asked to verify your login details

6. observe the email address of the sender, e.g. service@mail.ebay.comis very likely not from ebay.

There are many other useful resources in preventing yourself being victimised.    

What To DO 

Below are some tips based on the local newspaper to let you know WHAT TO DO:

If you are a victim of identity theft, you must inform:

1.the police.

 2. CyberSecurity Malaysia via Malaysian Computer Emergency Response Team (MyCERT) (Tel: 03-8992-6969, Fax: 03-8945-3442, e-mail: cyber999@cybersecurity.org.myor mycert@ mycert.org.my, SMS: 019-281-3801 (24 hours), Mobile phone: 019-266-5850 (24 hours).

 3. the social networking website you signed up for.

4. If someone is using your identification card number to create credit or new accounts, contact the National Registration Department.

5. Inform your bank and close financial accounts that may have been compromised.

Relevant Law

There are specific lawsin US to combat the identity theft in cyber space.

Unfortunately in Malaysia, this specific cyber law is lacking. We are now relying on the cheating provisions in Penal Code (s.417 – 420) and the MCMC Act to combat online ID theft.