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In the age of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, it can be much easier (unfortunately) for fraudsters and scammers to get hold of your personal and sensitive information, making it a much speedier process to lure you into initiating a banking transaction for some kind of “donation drive” for “the needy” with what may look like legitimate videos, posters, and other forms of marketing and promotional materials to do with an actual, existing organisation.

It’s even more unfortunate that tricksters are taking advantage of Malaysia’s characteristics that makes the country stand out from others – multiculturalism and public holidays that can also coincide with the weekend, making it a long weekend. Scammers are usually aware that messaging app users tend to have more time on their hands, especially when the holidays are multiple and fall on two working days in the same week.

The last thing you’d want to receive is a (lengthy) message (in Malay) that includes a sob story and some form of explanation where something about doing good deeds in the name of God is mentioned. What makes it more enticing is the fact that Hari Raya Korban is soon approaching, with the date yet to be confirmed by the relevant Malaysian authorities. This author was at the receiving end of such a message, by the way. The only thing that happened to this author is that she had a “fast-forward” moment with the calendar months, thinking it was already June 2025, when in fact, there’s still one remaining week of May 2025. See how these scams can make you confused?

Unfortunately, when you have a certain level of proficiency of Malay (despite being a non-observer), it also means that you can quite easily fall for the sob story and therefore are tempted to take the next steps, as directed by the message. Thank God this writer has some sense to recognise that the message is from a number that doesn’t belong in her contact list. So, the only thing this writer did next was block this scammer’s number (until there’s a better way to restrict access).

Luckily, it’s nothing to do with conducting Korban rites and rituals overseas, which is also another sneaky tactic to scam active users of these popular messaging platforms.

Hari Raya Korban, the fest of sacrifice, is about sacrificing the right things and for the right and logical reasons, according to your capacity. The message of this festival, I believe, has been made clear to all believers. Too bad, some misuse this festival (and many other festivals) as a time to seek financial gain by using criminal tactics in the cyberworld.

No, please make sure you do not sacrifice your dignity, along with your own ka-ching and time for criminals lurking around, especially once they get hold of your digital records and footprints.