Grab is now charging a new 1% fee for credit card top-ups to its GrabPay Wallet! Here is what you need to know…
Grab: New 1% credit card top-up fee starts today!
Grab has begun charging a new 1% fee for credit card top-ups to its GrabPay Wallet today – from 11 September 2024 onwards!
What this means is Grab will now deduct 1% from all credit card reloads. If you top up your GrabPay Wallet by RM100, you will only receive RM99.
This 1% fee will apply to all credit card reloads to GrabPay Wallet, except for the co-branded Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum credit card.
This decision by Grab to charge a 1% fee for credit card reloads come after TNG Digital implemented a similar 1% credit card reload fee for its Touch ‘n Go eWallet in February 2024.
How to reload GrabPay Wallet without 1% top-up fee
According to Grab, you can still continue to top-up their GrabPay Wallet for free using your GX account, bank transfers, or using a debit card.
And of course, if you have the Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum credit card, you will be able to reload your GrabPay Wallet for free.
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
TNG Digital just announced a 1% fee for all credit card reloads to the Touch ‘n Go eWallet! Here is what you need to know…
Touch ‘n Go eWallet To Charge 1% Fee For Credit Card Reloads!
TNG Digital just announced a 1% fee for all credit card reloads to the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, from 24 February 2024 onwards!
Touch ‘n Go eWallet users will have to switch to DuitNow Transfer, and debit card, for their reloads.
TNG Digital say that it made this move to reduce the high cost of credit card reloads that it has been subsidising all this while, and to curb the cashing out of the credit card reloads to bank accounts.
This move is to curb excessive cashing out of credit card balance to bank accounts and offset the heavy cost of credit card reloads which TNGD has been subsidising since its inception.
Users are encouraged to use bank transfers via DuitNow which has exactly the same process as fund transfer among bank accounts.
– TNG Digital CEO Alan Ni
TNG Digital had earlier reduced the amount of credit card reloads that Touch ‘n Go eWallet users can transfer to their bank accounts. In March 2023, it reduced the amount of transferable credit card reloads to RM1,000 per month.
Upon exceeding that RM1,000 limit, users can choose to further use their credit cards for reloads with a 1% fee. The new February 2024 policy basically removes the free credit card reload for the first RM1,000.
How To Avoid 1% Fee On Touch ‘n Go eWallet Reloads
From 24 February 2024 onwards, the only ways to get free reloads on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet is to use DuitNow Transfer, or your debit card.
Reloading using your debit card is no different from using your credit card, so it should be easy for you to simply switch to your debit card.
Transferring using DuitNow Transfer is, unfortunately, not so straightforward with the Touch ‘n Go eWallet. For those who are not familiar with using DuitNow Transfer, here’s a quick guide:
Look For Your DuitNow Account Number
Step 1 : Open and log into your Touch ‘n Go eWallet.
Step 2 : Click on the Profile button at the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3 : Under your name, you will see your 12-digit DuitNow account number. Write it down, or click on the copy button to copy it.
Reload Using Your DuitNow Account Number
Step 1 : Log into your preferred bank’s app or website.
Step 2 : Select the Transfers option.
Step 3 : Select the Transfer to other banks option.
Step 4 : Select Touch ‘n Go eWallet or DuitNow Transfer option.
Step 5 : Key in your Touch ‘n Go eWallet DuitNow account number.
Step 6 : Key in the amount you want to transfer, and click the Next or Transfer.
Step 7 : In the transfer summary page, verify the details and click Proceed. If you wish, you can also select “Add as Favourite” to make it easier to transfer more funds in the future.
As you can see, the DuitNow Transfer isn’t as user-friendly as using the credit card, which could put off many users. So a better alternative might be to use your debit card instead. Even so, I foresee many people switch to alternative e-wallets for payments.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
These PDRM parking fine emails are scam emails. This was confirmed by PDRM itself.
On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.
These emails are designed to scare its victims into action. Hence, it offers a very cheap way to quickly “settle the problem”. However, if you take a breath, and analyse the email CAREFULLY, you will see many problems with it.
Letter is from PDRM : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you by email.
Letter is in English : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you in English.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.
The email appears to be from My Bayar PDRM (typo in the name), but if you inspect the email address, you will see that it was sent by “in-to-no-reply@silverbackgames.xxx” or “hello@sooqr.com” or some other email address.
Obviously, this email did not originate from an official PDRM email address! This should immediately tell you that this is a fake or scam email!
If you click on the Pay My Fine link in the scam email, you will be taken to a fakeMy Bayar PDRM website (with the same typo in the name).
You may notice that you now have 7 days to pay the RM 50 fine, instead of just 5 days in the email. Odd, isn’t it?
Also odd is the fact that the page does not mention your name, your MyKad number, your vehicle type and model, or even its plate number! The page also doesn’t mention where the offence took place, or the time you were caught committing said offence.
Do NOT proceed after this point… This is a scam website!
But if you have itchy fingers, and click on the Pay The Fine button, you will be asked to pay for the RM50 fine using your debit or credit card.
Needless to say, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DEBIT / CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!
If you provide these scammers with your debit / credit card details and TAC / OTP numbers, they will be able to charge ANY AMOUNT they want to your credit card, or withdraw ANY AMOUNT they want from your bank account!
It’s even worse if you are asked to log into your bank account to pay the fine. DO NOT DO THAT!
If you provide them with your bank login and password, as well as OTP/TAC number, these scammers will be able to transfer money out of your bank account!
Please note – this is a scam! This is a phishing attack to gain access to your credit card and/or bank account.
Regardless of how you get any notification from PDRM about any traffic offence you may have committed, you should always check the status through these official MyBayar PDRM options:
Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
PDRM is warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam! Here is what you need to know about the MyBayar PDRM scam!
PDRM Warning : Watch Out For MyBayar Scam
On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.
The MyBayar PDRM scam starts with an official-looking email that warns motorists that they have been caught contravening the law, and offers a cheap RM50 fine if paid within 5 days:
Last notice of contravention before prosecution
Dear recipient,
We are writing to draw your attention to a recent traffic violation in Malaysian jurisdiction.
Our traffic enforcement staff have observed your vehicle parked in a no-parking zone. This contravenes section (no. 2016-691] of the Road Traffic Act.
As a result of this infringement, a fine of MYR 50 has been imposed. This fine must be paid within 5 days of the date of this notification to avoid further legal consequences.
Failure to pay the fine within the allotted time may result in legal proceedings being taken against you, which could lead to increased fines, penalties and the possible suspension of your driving license.
Many people who received the MyBayar PDRM email might be shocked to find out that they were caught committing a traffic violation, and then relieved that it was only RM50 if they paid quickly.
That’s how the scammers trap their victims – by offering a cheap RM50 fine, when we all know that fines for traffic offences are at least RM150, and can go all the way up to RM1,000!
Those who received this fake MyBayar PDRM email would be tempted to quickly pay the cheap RM50 fine, before it becomes a lot more expensive!
But if you take a closer look at the email, you will spot some problems with it:
Weird English : The email title of “Last notice of contravention before prosecution” is nonsensical.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.
The email appears to be from My Bayar PDRM (typo in the name), but if you inspect the email address, you will see that it was sent by “in-to-no-reply@silverbackgames.xxx” or “hello@sooqr.com” or some other email address.
Obviously, this email did not originate from an official PDRM email address! This should immediately tell you that this is a fake or scam email!
If you click on the Pay My Fine link in the scam email, you will be taken to a fakeMy Bayar PDRM website (with the same typo in the name).
You may notice that you now have 7 days to pay the RM 50 fine, instead of just 5 days in the email. Odd, isn’t it?
Also odd is the fact that the page does not mention your name, your MyKad number, your vehicle type and model, or even its plate number! The page also doesn’t mention where the offence took place, or the time you were caught committing said offence.
Do NOT proceed after this point… This is a scam website!
But if you have itchy fingers, and click on the Pay The Fine button, you will be asked to pay for the RM50 fine using your debit or credit card.
Needless to say, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DEBIT / CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!
If you provide these scammers with your debit / credit card details and TAC / OTP numbers, they will be able to charge ANY AMOUNT they want to your credit card, or withdraw ANY AMOUNT they want from your bank account!
It’s even worse if you are asked to log into your bank account to pay the fine. DO NOT DO THAT!
If you provide them with your bank login and password, as well as OTP/TAC number, these scammers will be able to transfer money out of your bank account!
Please note – this is a scam! This is a phishing attack to gain access to your credit card and/or bank account.
Regardless of how you get any notification from PDRM about any traffic offence you may have committed, you should always check the status through these official MyBayar PDRM options:
Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Maybank just announced that all of its online, mobile and card services are up and running after going offline earlier today! Here is what you need to know…
Maybank Online + Card Services Finally Up + Running!
At 3:46 PM on 7 August 2023, Maybank sent out an alert that all of its online, mobile and card services are temporarily unavailable
Maybank2U web banking services
M2U and MAE mobile banking apps
debit and credit card usage
The only good news is that ATM and counter services appear to be unaffected by this downtime.
This announcement came hours after people started complaining that they could not log into the Maybank website.
As of 4 PM, none of Maybank’s online or mobile services are working. Neither will you be able to use your Maybank debit or credit card to make payments.
Update @ 4:30 PM : Maybank just announced that it restored Maybank2U web, the MAE app, and both debit card and credit card services!
Earlier : Maybank Online + Card Services All Down!
The Maybank downtime appeared to occur at around 1 PM or so, with Maybank initially asking users to switch to the MAE mobile app:
Good day and any inconvenience is much regretted. Based on our checking, the MAE app is operating fine at the moment.uled maintenance to improve your experience and will be back up shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience.
However, some Maybank users soon pointed out that their MAE app wasn’t working either!
Be Right Back!
We’re experiencing communication error. Please try again later.
That’s when Maybank support staff claimed that they were experiencing “intermittent slowness” on their MAE app and Maybank2U web platforms:
Kindly be informed that we are experiencing an intermittent slowness on our MAE App & M2U web platforms. We are working to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your patience and continuous support.
It was only about two hours later that Maybank finally admitted that all of its mobile and online banking services were down, as well as its debit and credit card services.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out how to disable the Debit Card feature of your Maybank ATM card, and why you should do that right away!
Maybank ATM Card Is Also Visa payWave Debit Card
Many Maybank customers may not know this, but your ATM card is not just an ATM card – it doubles as a Visa payWave debit card as well.
Since Maybank introduced its first combined ATM + Visa Debit card in March 2008, it has progressively migrated all existing ATM cards to the new combined card.
Today, all Maybank ATM cards are effectively Visa payWave debit cards, even though we may not have applied for the debit card or payWave functions.
Maybank ATM Card : Why You Should Disable Debit Card Feature!
Banks are promoting the use of debit cards, because they charge an interchange fee for every debit card transaction. That is why banks are “forcing” these combined ATM + debit card onto customers.
However, debit cards only offer minimal fraud protection (if at all), as payments are considered to be directly withdrawn from your bank account. That is why personal finance experts always recommend using a credit card, instead of a debit card.
Even worse, these debit cards often include contactless payment technologies like Visa payWave or Mastercard contactless. This allows anyone to directly withdraw money from your account without even requiring the PIN number!
Transaction
Amount
Required Action
Above RM250
Tap and use PIN to approve
RM250 and below
Just tap. No PIN required.
Now, to be clear, the debit card and payWave feature will only be enabled after you perform at least one (1) successful PIN transaction at any point-of-sales terminal. But once that is done – both debit card and payWave features will remain activated.
This is one of the many reasons why money-savvy people do not use debit cards at all. It’s not only much safer to use credit cards, they also help build your credit rating and some benefits like cash back rebates, points, etc. There literally isn’t any benefit to using debit cards.
Unfortunately, many banks aren’t giving you the option of opting out. You may not want one, but you may not have a choice. The Maybank ATM card, for example, is a Visa payWave debit card which you cannot opt-out of. You cannot ask for a pure ATM card, and neither will Maybank disable the debit card or payWave features. I know. I asked.
Maybank ATM Card : How To Disable Debit Card + payWave!
To be clear – there is no way to actually disable the debit card or payWave functionality of your Maybank ATM card. But you can effectively disable both features by setting the debit card purchase limit to zero.
In this guide, I will show you how to do that using your Maybank2U online account, or at the Maybank ATM.
Maybank2U Online Account
Step 1 : Log into your Maybank2U account
Step 2 : On the right corner of the Maybank2U screen, click on the Settings option.
Step 3 : Click on the Cards tab, and it should show you the Manage Debit Cards section by default.
As you can see, by default, the Maybank ATM-debit card has a purchase limit of RM1,000 per transaction.
Step 4 : Click on the Edit icon, and you will be able to change the Purchase Limit, from RM0 all the way to RM10,000.
Step 5 : Select RM0.00 from the drop-down list, and the click the SAVE button.
Step 6 : Look for this yellow banner at the bottom of the screen, and click the REQUEST button to request the 6-digit SMS TAC on your registered mobile number.
Step 7 : Once you receive the 6-digit SMS TAC, key it into the box, and click on the CONFIRM button.
If you keyed in the correct SMS TAC, you should see this notice telling you that your new purchase limit has been set.
Now that you have successfully reduced your Purchase Limit to RM0.00, it doesn’t matter that Maybank refuses to disable the debit card or payWave function. They both just won’t be able to transfer any money from your account!
Maybank2U Online Account
Step 1 : Insert your ATM card and key in your PIN number.
Step 2 : Select Other Transaction in the main menu.
Step 3 : Select the Change Limit / Language / Maybank One option.
Step 4 : Select the Purchase Limit option.
Step 5 : Select No Purchase to prevent the card from being used to make any purchases.
Alternatively, you can select Preferred Limit. Then you need to key in RM 0.00, and then select Yes to confirm that decision.
After you set No Purchase or a Preferred Limit of RM0.00, the debit card and payWave functionality of your Maybank ATM card is effectively disabled.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Many Facebook users are getting hit by the Facebook Ads and Facebook Pay scams! Here is how you can prevent it from happening to you!
Facebook Ads + Pay Scam Hits Many Bank Customers!
Many bank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!
They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved. Some have also stated that their credit or debit cards were used to purchase goods and services using Facebook Pay.
Stephanie Wong : I found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately. They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.
@ruffleseed : I heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook on multiple bank over the past few weeks.
Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messengerhandle your SMS. @MyMaybankhas yet to answer us re: this intrusion.
@ItsNeoah : Banyak kali kena kat credit card ambank. Alhamdulilah call ambank dia mintak isi dispute form then tgok next cycle bil dah takde. Letih ngan scammer ni.
Translation : [My] Ambank credit card got hit many times. Alhamdulillah, after calling Ambank, they asked me to fill out a dispute form, then when I checked the next bill cycle [the charges] was removed. Tired of this scammer.
Here are some ways to prevent getting hit by the Facebook Ads scam, whether you are a bank customer in Malaysia or other countries.
Do NOT Use Debit Cards
First, you should NEVER use a debit card if you can help it. You should certainly not use a debit card online, or register it on any online or mobile payment platform, whether it’s for Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Facebook Pay.
It doesn’t matter if Bill Gates or Elon Musk or BTS endorses debit cards. DO NOT USE DEBIT CARDS!
You should certainly never use your debit card to fund Facebook advertisements. Always use a credit card, which offers you some protection against such fraudulent transactions.
Disable Your ATM Card’s Debit Card Function
Even if you have never requested for a debit card, you likely already own one – your ATM card likely doubles as a debit card! Banks have been forcing customers to take on debit cards, often by making ATM cards double as debit cards.
If possible, ask your bank to disable debit card function in your ATM card. But it is likely that they will refuse to do so – they make money from debit card transactions after all!
If your bank refuses to disable the debit card function in your ATM card, you can ask them to set the limit to ZERO. That will effectively block scammers from accessing your bank account!
Monitor Your Credit Card Transactions
Using a credit card to purchase products and services on online and mobile payment platforms offers you some protection against fraud, but you must always monitor the transactions and report any fraudulent transactions right away.
Depending on the country and card network, you usually have about 60 days to dispute credit card charges. So don’t wait. Report them as soon as you spot them! This will reduce the loss and reports you make, and speeds up the refund process.
If you register your credit cards for use with Facebook Ads or Facebook Pay, try to REMOVE them as soon as you are done.
Do NOT leave them registered to your Facebook Ads or Facebook Pay account, as a scammer or hacker who gains access to your Facebook account can make fraudulent purchases or run fraudulent advertisements using those credit cards without additional verification.
But if you have never registered your credit or debit cards with Facebook, or removed them after using, even if scammers hacked into your Facebook account or gained access through phishing attacks, they won’t be able to use your credit or debit cards!
Enable PIN For Facebook Pay
If you are using Facebook Pay, a scammer who gains access to your Facebook account could potentially use the debit or credit cards you registered earlier to make fraudulent transactions.
To prevent that, you should enable PIN confirmation for Facebook Pay:
Go to Settings in the Facebook website (not app).
Go to Account Settings, and select Orders and payments.
In the Orders and payments page, select Settings.
In the Security section, select Require PIN Confirmation.
You will be asked to enter a 4-digit number as your PIN.
Key in the 4-digit number again to confirm your PIN.
After that, you will be required to key in the 4-digit PIN whenever you make a payment, or change your bank account details, or connect your payment info with other Meta apps.
Once you’ve turned on two-factor authentication, you can get 10 recovery login codes to use when you’re unable to use your phone.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
If you are one of the many Maybank (MBB) customers who got hit by the Facebook Ads scam, here is how you can recover your money!
Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!
Many Maybank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!
They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved.
Stephanie Wong : I think i am a very cautious person as I did not link my card to any platform or make purchase through any unsafe website at ALL, but it still happens to me.
I found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately.
They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.
@ruffleseed : I heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook on multiple bank over the past few weeks.
Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messengerhandle your SMS.
@MyMaybankhas yet to answer us re: this intrusion.
Generally, you should NEVER use a debit card because it does not offer the protection a credit card does – money is withdrawn directly from your bank account, and the bank is not legally obliged to refund any money lost through scams.
However, Hafizah Ayko who was once a victim shared her experience on how she managed to recover money, even though the scammers used her debit card to run those fake Facebook advertisements.
To help you recover any money you may have lost to Facebook Ads scammers, I translated and “improved” her instructions for you:
Disable Your Debit / Credit Card
First, you need to quickly disable your debit or credit card. You can call up the bank, or in Maybank’s case:
Step 1 : Log into your Maybank2U account.
Step 2 : Go to Cards, and select Manage My Debit Card.
Step 4 : Select Block Debit Card. You will need to get a replacement card from any Maybank branch later.
If you feel that the above steps are too complicated, an alternative method would be to immediately transfer your money to another bank account, if you have one.
But please DO NOT transfer your money to another person’s account. Only transfer your money to another bank account that you own.
NEVER EVER transfer your money to a third party, especially they claim to be police officers or bank officers trying to help you. That is a scam!
Police departments and banks do NOT have special bank accounts to hold and protect your money during scams. And legitimate police and bank officers are NOT authorised to receive money, and will NEVER ask you to transfer money to their bank accounts.
Next, you need to immediately disable all advertisements that the scammer has set up using your Facebook account. The longer they continue to run, the more you are being charged for them!
Step 1 : Go to your Facebook account, and select See all.
Step 2 : Select Ads Manager.
Step 3 : You should see a bunch of fraudulent advertisements running. Turn all of them off.
You should also report the fraudulent transactions to your bank and request for a refund. This works for credit cards, but you should nevertheless give it a try even if the scammers hit your debit card.
Step 2 : Print or directly fill in the information into the PDF form.
Step 3 : Email the form to disputemgmt@maybank.com.my, together with any relevant screenshots, within 20 days from the closing date of the billing period.
Again, banks are not obliged to refund fraudulent charges to debit cards, as the money is withdrawn directly from your bank account. But there is no harm trying.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Many Maybank (MBB) customers are getting hit by the Facebook Ads scam!
Find out what’s going on, and what you can do to avoid this Facebook Ads scam!
Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!
Many Maybank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!
They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved.
Stephanie Wong : I think i am a very cautious person as I did not link my card to any platform or make purchase through any unsafe website at ALL, but it still happens to me.
I found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately.
They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.
@ruffleseed : I heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook on multiple bank over the past few weeks.
Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messengerhandle your SMS.
@MyMaybankhas yet to answer us re: this intrusion.
Danish Ihsan : Aku dah kena jugak, satu hari 2 transaction.. nasib sedaq awai, habis rm800.. kalau tak lagi banyak.. maybank dah tak selamat, tadi kat bank pun ada akak kena jugak transfer to others acc beribu2 jugak lah,. Solusi, jangan guna maybank buat masa sekarang..
Translation : I got with with 2 transactions in one day.. luckily, I realised early, but lost rm800.. if not it would have been more.. maybank is not safe, just now at the bank a lady transferred thousands [of ringgit] to other people’s account. Solution, don’t use Maybank for now..
Analysis : Facebook Ads Scam May Not Be Related To Maybank
Many of those customers are angry with Maybank over these fraudulent charges to their debit cards, which meant the money was directly withdrawn from their bank accounts.
However, on closer analysis, the scammers may not necessarily be taking advantage of leaked Maybank debit card information, or hacked Maybank itself…
Fact #1 : Other Bank Customers Are Affected Too
While most recent Facebook Ads scam cases appear to be affecting Maybank customers, other bank customers are reporting that they took were charged for those fraudulent advertisements.
@eeshepeeka : nohh laki cek pun kena last week tp kat CIMB. ada few transaction for 2 days nasib dia tolak sikit2. sekali deduct RM12+ sehari 3x ja. deduction description pun sama sebiji cam dlm gambaq tu. haiyaa
Translation : Well, my husband also got [scammed] last week but at CIMB. there were a few transactions for 2 days, but luckily [the scammer] deducted only small amounts. each time deducting RM12+ a day for 3 times. The deduction description is the same as the one in the picture. haiyaa
@ItsNeoah : Banyak kali kena kat credit card ambank. Alhamdulilah call ambank dia mintak isi dispute form then tgok next cycle bil dah takde. Letih ngan scammer ni.
Translation : [My] Ambank credit card got hit many times. Alhamdulillah, after calling Ambank, they asked me to fill out a dispute form, then when I checked the next bill cycle [the charges] was removed. Tired of this scammer.
Fact #2 : Most Of Them Ran Facebook Ads In The Past
In addition to analysing their stories, I also spoke to someone who knows several Maybank customers who got hit by the scam. From what I can ascertain, most of them ran Facebook Ads in the past.
Stephanie Wong : 3.) Did not run any ads recently, but few years ago
@wnn_tasha : I last pakai FB ad guna akaun ni tahun 2018. Silap tak remove payment method tu.
Translation : I last used FB ad using this account in 2018. My mistake for not removing the payment method.
They said that they paid for Facebook page a few years ago to boost their audience.
That said, at least two Maybank customers said that they have never registered any debit or credit card with Facebook:
Fahim Fahmi : Tak pernah ada link kad dengan FB atau social media yang lain
Translation : [I] never linked [any] card with FB or other social media
@ruffleseed : I have never set up payment methods on Facebook nor have I ever used Facebook ads.
Fact #3 : Scammer Likely Got Access To Those Facebook Accounts
What is interesting is that most of those who were affected by this Facebook Ads scam reported that their Facebook accounts were used to create and run those ads.
If their debit or credit cards were merely stolen, the scammers could have created a new Facebook account to use those stolen cards to run Facebook ads.
Fortunately, one of the victims “caught” the scammer logging into her account from the United States. This clearly shows that the Facebook Ads scam requires the scammer to gain access to their Facebook accounts.
It is likely that the scammers gained access to their victims’ Facebook accounts using phishing attacks, and simply used the debit or credit cards that those victims earlier registered with Facebook to run advertisements in the past.
Fact #4 : Facebook Auto-Fill Is Not The Problem
After these cases went viral, people blamed the Auto-Fill feature in Facebook, and shared videos and photos on how to disable it.
The truth is – this Facebook Ads scam very likely has nothing to do with Auto-Fill, which is a feature used in many other services and platforms.
Auto-Fill only makes it easier to fill in your debit or credit card details. It does not bypass any verification that is required to make a payment.
Now, this is important – you need to move fast to cut your losses, and recover the money. You can also improve your Facebook account security to prevent it from happening again.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : Facebook Auto-Fill Does Not Open You To Scams
There appears to be a spate of scams involving Facebook Ads and Maybank users, but it does not appear to be related to the Facebook Auto-Fill feature, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Facebook Introduced Auto-Fill In 2013
Facebook started introducing Auto-Fill sometime in September 2013, and gradually rolled it out globally over the years, so this is not a new feature.
Fact #2 : Many App Use Auto-Fill
Facebook isn’t the only app or platform to use Auto-Fill. Many services and platforms use Auto-Fill to make it easier to fill up forms and make payments.
The Auto-Fill feature is used in most, if not all, e-commerce / online shopping / online payment platforms, to expedite payments. The idea is that if they make it easier it is for you to pay, you will tend to buy more!
Many apps and services also use Auto-Fill to help you fill onerous forms with common details like your full name, email address, address and telephone number.
Fact #3 : Facebook Does Not Automatically Have Your Details
Facebook enables Auto-Fill by default for forms and payment, but that does not mean it has access to your debit or credit cards, or even your personal details. You need to manually key in your Contact Info and/or Payment Info for Facebook Auto-Fill to work.
If you have never given Facebook your credit card details, there is no way for its Auto-Fill to automatically fill in the credit card details for any transaction. Even if a scammer gains access to your Facebook account, he/she cannot use Auto-Fill because you never keyed in your debit or credit card details in the first place!
I did a quick check on two cases involving Maybank that came up recently (first example) (second example), and noticed that both parties who reported that they got fraudulently charged for Facebook Ads never registered their credit card with Facebook at all!
So whatever may be going on, it does not appear to be a Facebook Auto-Fill issue. But just in case you are worried, here are the latest steps on how to disable Auto-Fill on the Facebook mobile app.
Tap on your icon at the upper right corner of the Facebook app to access the Menu.
Scroll down the Menu until you see the Settings & privacy group.
Tap on Settings.
Scroll down the Settings & privacy page, and tap on Browser.
Scroll down the Browser settings page to the Auto-fill section.
You can tap on the Contact info and Payment info to check what information you shared with Facebook.
To disable Auto-fill for contact information, unselect Auto-fill contact forms.
To disable Auto-fill for payment, unselect Auto-fill payment forms.
Even if you registered your credit card details with Facebook, and then use Auto-Fill to make a purchase, you will still need to authenticate that purchase.
Of course, it is possible to conduct a SIM swap attack, but that’s a different story altogether…
Fact #5 : Existing Facebook Ads Account Is A Risk
Those who have earlier registered a Facebook Ads account and ran advertisements may be at risk, because their credit cards would already be linked to their Facebook Ads account.
A scammer who gains access to their account (usually through phishing attacks) can easily create and run advertisements using their existing Facebook Ads account using the credit cards that have already been registered and approved earlier.
To minimise your risk, never ever use a debit card! Always use a CREDIT CARD, and always keep an eye on the transactions. Report to the bank once you see a fraudulent transaction.
But this has nothing to do with the Facebook Auto-Fill feature, and is not a concern if you never pre-approved your debit or credit cards with a Facebook Ads account.
Fact #5 : Existing Facebook Pay Account Is A Risk
Similarly, if you are using Facebook Pay, a scammer who gains access to your Facebook account could potentially use the debit or credit cards you registered earlier to make fraudulent transactions.
Again, you should NEVER use a debit card with Facebook Pay. Use a credit card, and always keep an eye on the transactions, and report to the bank once you see something fishy.
On top of that, you should enable PIN confirmation for Facebook Pay:
Go to Settings in the Facebook website (not app).
Go to Account Settings, and select Orders and payments.
In the Orders and payments page, select Settings.
In the Security section, select Require PIN Confirmation.
You will be asked to enter a 4-digit number as your PIN.
Key in the 4-digit number again to confirm your PIN.
After that, you will be required to key in the 4-digit PIN whenever you make a payment, or change your bank account details, or connect your payment info with other Meta apps.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Now that Apple Pay is available in Malaysia, here is my guide on how to set it up with your debit / credit card!
Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!
Apple Pay was first launched way back in September 2014, together with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, its global availability was slow and some would say, tortuous.
For years, Apple fans in Malaysia have requested for Apple Pay to be introduced in Malaysia, and could only look at Singapore in envy, when Apple Pay was introduced there more than six years ago in April 2016!
But the wait is over! The steady drip of leaks has finally culminated in actual confirmation that yes, Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!
While this guide is based on credit cards in Malaysia, it will work in other countries too, as long as Apple Pay is supported.
Not All Banks Support Apple Pay
First of all, you must understand that not all banks support Apple Pay. Here in Malaysia, only three banks support Apple Pay at the moment.
Banks In Malaysia That Support Apple Pay
You will be able to register debit and credit cards issued by these banks :
AmBank
Maybank
Standard Chartered Bank
Banks In Malaysia That Do Not Support Apple Pay
You won’t be able to add debit or credit cards from these banks :
CIMB
Citibank
UOB
OCBC
I will update this article as and when I find out what other banks in Malaysia support, or don’t support, Apple Pay.
To help you register your debit / credit card with Apple Pay, here is my step-by-step guide :
Step 1 : Open the Wallet app in your iPhone.
Step 2 : Tap on the Add button to “Add a credit or debit card to get started using Apple Pay”.
Step 3 : In the next screen, tap on the Continue button.
Step 4 : You will now be asked to “scan” your debit / credit card using your iPhone camera, positioning it within the frame.
Step 5 : The Wallet app will try to pick up important details of your credit card like :
Name
Credit card number
Expiry date
If nothing happens, that means it cannot read the details off the card. Then you will need to tap on the Enter Card Details Manually option at the bottom.
Step 6 : Whether your card details are detected or not, verify the key card details required by Apple Pay :
Name
Card Number
Expiry Date
Security Code
If the detected details are wrong, edit them to make sure they match your debit / credit card.
Step 7 : You will need to key in the Security Code, which is a 3-digit or 4-digit CSC (Card Security Code) / CVV (Card Verification Value) / CVC (Card Verification Code) usually printed on the back of your debit / credit card.
Step 8 : If your credit card is not supported, you will get a pop-up message saying :
Your Issuer Does Not Yet Offer Support for This Card
Ask your issuer if they offer cards that support Apple Pay.
If your card is supported, you will see a list of Terms and Conditions. You will need to tap on Agree to continue.
Step 9 : The screen show details of your credit card while the Wallet app sets it up for Apple Pay. Just wait for a few seconds.
Step 10 : You will now be asked to verify your card for Apple Pay, usually through Text Message. Tap Next to continue with the verification process.
Step 11 : You will receive an SMS with a 6-digit One Time Password (OTP). You need to key that in within 2 minutes :
Card enrolment OTP for your digital wallet is XXXXXX. It will expire after 2 mins. If you have not performed this, please contact the bank.
Step 12 : Tap Next after keying in the OTP, and you should see the Card Activated notice.
That’s it! Your credit card is now ready for Apple Pay. When you open your Wallet, you should see that debit / credit card listed.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Public hospitals and clinics under KKM will no longer accept cash payments starting 1 October 2022!
Here is what you need to know…
No More Cash Payment At KKM Hospitals + Clinics!
From 1 October 2022 onwards, public hospitals and clinics under the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) will no longer accept cash payments.
They will only accept payments through e-payment methods like :
debit card
credit card
e-wallet
They will, however, accept cash payment if the customer has no other payment options, or a bank account.
KKM is aiming to achieve 95% cashless transactions by December 2022.
Why KKM Hospitals + Clinics Will No Longer Accept Cash Payments
This initiative to eliminate cash payments at KKM health facilities is part of the 2021 Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, which called for all federal and state agencies to prioritise cashless payments by the year 2022.
The 2021-2022 KKM Anti-Corruption Plan also called for cash payments to be eliminated at public hospitals and clinics.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health believes that eliminating cash payments at their health facilities will :
reduce the risk of leakage of public funds
increase efficiency by making payments at the counter faster, easier and safer
reduce the cost and work process of collecting payments
reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections through contactless payment
To that end, KKM had ordered the implementation of cashless payment systems at all health facilities back in June 2022, with full implementation starting 1 October 2022, targeting 95% cashless payments by December 2022.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Scammers are now targeting Malaysians with THREE fake CIMB Bank scams regarding online or credit card payments.
Please SHARE this scam alert with your family and friends, so they won’t get cheated!
THREE Fake CIMB Bank Call + SMS Scams!
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, many Malaysians are now purchasing more online, and paying for those purchases with their credit cards.
This has attracted scammers who are now targeting both online purchasers and credit card users. In these new scams, they are pretending to be CIMB Bank.
Scam #1 : Credit Card Payment Authorisation
In this scam, the scammers used an automated call system with the number +113818415.
After you accept the call, a pre-recorded message will ask you to verify that you have just charged RM XXXX to your credit card, with these options :
Press 1 to accept the charge to your credit card
Press 2 to speak to a CIMB bank officer
Needless to say, when you opt to speak to a bank officer (fearing that you are a victim of a hacking attempt), the scammer will now convince you to transfer your money from your bank account to the bank’s account for “safe keeping”.
There is no such thing. Banks will NEVER ask you to transfer money out of your account. If they suspect fraud, they can simply disable your credit card, and deny payment to the merchant.
Scam #2 : Outstanding Credit Card Debt
In a different version of the first scam, the automated call system used a mobile number – +6012-22452090.
This time, the pre-recorded message will inform you that you owe RM XXXX on your CIMB Bank credit card.
Again, you will be offered the opportunity to speak with a CIMB Bank officer – the scammer – who will try to convince you to pay the money into a different account, or give him / her your login details.
A real bank officer will NEVER ask you to transfer money to a different bank account, or request for your login details. If you have outstanding credit card debt, the bank will just charge you interest on it.
Scam #3 : Online Purchase Warning
Happening concurrently with the scam calls is this CIMB Bank SMS scam campaign.
You may receive something like this, which looks like a genuine SMS from CIMB Bank informing you about a charge to your credit card.
Of course, the mobile number – +6013-688-1813 is a dead giveaway for those who are alert. But at a glance, it looks genuine enough.
If you call the scam number – 1800-81-9767, you will be connected to the scammer, who will then try to convince you to transfer money from your bank account to a CIMB Bank account for “safe keeping”.
Just like in the first scam example, no bank will ever ask you to transfer money out of your own bank account. Even if they suspect fraud, they can simply lock your account.
And again, if they suspect your credit card has been misused, they can simply disable your credit card, and deny payment to the merchant.
Warn Everyone About Bank Scams!
Such scams, whether they are from CIMB Bank or any other bank, has the potential to cost the victim A LOT OF MONEY.
So please warn your family and friends about these scams.Share this article as widely as possible.
And if you receive a similar call, please report it to Maybank, Bank Negara and the police.
Here are different bank scams that you may want to be alert about :
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On May 5, 2016, GoBear launched their website to help Malaysians tackle the confusing morass of insurance and credit card offerings in Malaysia. The GoBear website aims to summarise the confusing features and limitations of all those offerings to give you nothing but the “bear essentials”. This will allow you to easily compare their features and limitations, so you can make the best financial decisions for your family.
In this video, GoBear CEO Andre Hesselink explains the motivation behind GoBear and how they avoid being biased in their recommendations.
Then it’s time for GoBear to break out of its prison!
Now, Iskandar Ezzahuddin, GoBear Country Director (Malaysia), explains how the GoBear website works its magic.
Their aim is, ultimately, to clarify the confusing insurance and credit card market for the consumer. Their partners, on the other hand, benefit by receiving customers that are already aware about what they are buying.
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GoBear Press Release
MALAYSIA (6 MAY 2016) – Have you ever been in a situation where you are completely lost and have to bear the hassle of comparing various travel insurance policies and credit cards? Starting today, break free from the hair pulling confusion of trying to select the best financial products to suit your needs. GoBear, the easy-to-navigate site provides unbiased side-by-side comparison between different financial products for users.
GoBear believes in being an internet company that specialises as an information platform and not as a seller or representative of products. This allows unbiased search results that are fair, simple, and complete to match the needs and preference of any individual or family. Consider it the go-to place when you need only the bare necessities to help you pick the perfect financial product. GoBear currently lists over 1,000 financial products on its website and will be adding more in the months to come.
“GoBear originated from the idea that people today want easy access to service information, and that customers should be able to compare various financial products easily before making a decision. This is where GoBear steps in, to provide a new experience that makes searching for financial products quickly, easily and transparently,” said Iskandar Ezzahuddin, Country Director Malaysia, GoBear.
He continued, “Today’s insurance buyers are mobile-first, multi-screen and social media savvy. To reach them, insurance companies will need to employ an increasing emphasis on simplicity in search.”
GoBear recorded a 50 percent month on month growth in usage with over 1.2 million users since it first established itself in Singapore and Thailand.
On the expansion to Malaysia, Andre Hesselink, Chief Executive Officer of GoBear explained, “GoBear is a global brand in the making and we are very focused on being local to serve customers in each of our key markets in the best way. Together with a team of Malaysian specialists, we continue to enhance the seamless user experience, with search, filter and insurance quotes.”
GoBear Malaysia currently features travel insurance and credits cards. The site will be expanding into the car insurance and personal loan category in the third quarter of this year.
With GoBear, all the crucial information you need is as ‘bear’ as it comes.
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