Bruneians rack up $2 million in losses from online scams Police say netizens are becoming more wary, but scammers are getting even more savvy

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Bruneians racked up $2 million in losses from cybercrime last year, according to the police’s newly-established Cybercrime Investigation Division.  

In 2023, 834 cases were reported to police, compared to 748 in 2022 – an 11% increase.

Senior Superintendent Handrie Hj Amin, head of the Cybercrime Investigation Division, said e-commerce scams were the most common type of cybercrime in 2023 with 378 reported cases.

Other common online scams were social media impersonation (141 cases); loan and money scams (123 cases); investment scams (103 cases); and unauthorised account takeovers on social media (6%). 

Statistics showed that victims came from all levels of society, from professionals to retirees.

Approximately 52% of victims were men, while 48% were women. Some 39% of victims were between 18 and 35 years old, while 60% were 36 and above. 

Handrie urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unverified entities.

“It’s crucial to report any incidents. If victims stay silent out of embarrassment, suspects will continue to find new victims. We need to report these cases to catch the perpetrators,” he told The Scoop on the sidelines of the Digital Future Conference. 

As Brunei continues to grapple with the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, the focus remains on preventive measures, the senior superintendent added. 

He shared that the increase in reported cases could be attributed to growing public awareness, with more people recognising and reporting fraudulent activities, even if they are not directly affected. 

The Royal Brunei Police Force launched the Cybercrime Investigation Division in June last year to tackle the growing cybercrime threat.

Handrie said the new division focuses on improving investigative methods and boosting public awareness of cybercrimes.

The nature of cybercrime often involves complex, cross-border operations, making it difficult to apprehend and prosecute suspects, especially when they operate from abroad, Handrie said, adding that Brunei authorities are collaborating with international counterparts such as Interpol to track down perpetrators.