Thai, Malaysian cops to jointly tackle cybercrime

CHIANGMAI: Malaysian and Thai police will cooperate to stem the rising tide of cybercrime.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the two countries would share intelligence to get more information and identify the groups involved in Internet-related scams, as well as their modus operandi.

"We are living in a globalised world ... where people from different nations are offering business to citizens in other countries with the intention to cheat them," he said.

Musa said many people had been duped by promises of wealth via methods such as the Nigerian letter scam, black money and credit card fraud.

Police had uncovered syndicates run by Malaysians and African nationals, he said at a media conference at the end of the two-day 19th Departmental Review of the Joint Malaysia-Thailand Working Committee on Criminal Activities.

Also present were Thai Police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and Malaysian CID chief Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin.

Two weeks ago, Thai police arrested 18 Nigerians who were involved in an Internet scam in Bangkok.

"We need more information to educate the people so that they will not fall for such scams," Musa said.

He said that with better cooperation and sharing of database, police would be able to identify the culprits involved and bring them to justice.

At the meeting, Malaysia and Thailand also agreed to enhance cooperation and map out new strategies to tackle transnational crime.

The other priority areas include terrorism, vehicle theft and human trafficking, Musa said, adding that the issue of sea piracy would be discussed further at their next meeting in Sabah next year.

Musa also said that the level of cooperation among Asean police would be greatly enhanced when the Aseanpol permanent secretariat is established in Kuala Lumpur. -- Bernama