The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is offering up to 50% discount for selected traffic offences for just 3 days!
Find out how you can get the 50% discount on your traffic offences from PDRM!
PDRM Offers 50% Discount On Traffic Offences For 3 Days!
On 6 December 2023, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) announced a special 50% discount for selected traffic offences for just 3 days!
From 8 December until 10 December 2023, motorists will be able to get a 50% discount for selected traffic summonses at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium:
Date : Friday, 8 December until Sunday, 10 December 2023
Location : Tent no. 2, Bukit Jalil National Stadium (behind the main stage)
PDRM 50% Traffic Summons Discount For December 2023
This special PDRM offer only applies to traffic summonses issued in 2022 and earlier. It does not apply to traffic offences committed in 2023, or active warrants for court trials. This limited 50% discount offer also does not apply to:
summons for traffic accidents
court cases which involve arrest warrants or ongoing trials
non-compoundable offences, like driving without a licence, careless driving, expired driving licence, uninsured vehicle, etc.
Motorists who want to take advantage of this discount programme are advised to check their outstanding traffic summonses through the PDRM MyBayar website and/or mobile app before heading over to the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Please note that you cannot get the discount by paying online. Unlike earlier online discount offers, this programme requires you to be physically present at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium between 8 to 10 December 2023.
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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.
Be warned – your eWallet account may be blocked, if you attempt to transfer your free RM100 eMADANI credit! Here is what you need to know…
eMADANI : 10 Million Malaysian Citizens To Get Free RM100!
On 27 July 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government will give a special, one-off RM100 eWallet credit.
On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, the government announced that the eMADANI programme will benefit some 10 million Malaysian citizens and 2 million businesses, with a total budget of RM 1 billion.
The eMADANI programme is a new initiative that is designed to stimulate the micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS), as well as promote cashless payments, and alleviate inflationary pressures on the rakyat.
From 4 December until 20 February 2023, eligible Malaysians can register and receive RM100 in one of these four eWallets:
MAE
Setel
ShopeePay, and
Touch ‘n Go eWallet
Please note that these four eWallet providers will also be offering additional incentives in the form of vouchers, cashbacks, discounts, reward points, and coins. So be sure to “shop around” for the best offers, before deciding on which eWallet to use!
eWallet May Be Blocked If eMADANI Credit Is Transferred!
On Monday, 4 December 2023, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance issued a statement warning that your eWallet may be blocked if you attempt to transfer your free RM100 eMADANI credit out!
This is partly because the eMADANI programme is meant to promote the digital economy, and the use of cashless payments in Malaysia.
The RM100 eWallet credit must be spent physically in retail stores and businesses using the the eWallet of your choice, except:
peer-to-peer transfers
cash redemptions
bill payments through the eWallet
government fee payments through the eWallet
telco postpaid payments and prepaid reloads through the eWallet
game payments through the eWallet
parking and toll payments
investment activities through the eWallet
e-commerce or online transactions
On top of that, the Ministry is aware of online scams offering “cash out” services to people. To avoid people being tricked into transferring their eMADANI credit out, the Malaysian government may order the blocking of eWallet accounts used in such activities, as well as the eMADANI credit involved.
So please make sure you do not transfer your RM100 eMADANI credit out of your eWallet. Do not fall for scams offering you the option to “cash out” the money. Instead, use the eMADANI credit to purchase at retail stores.
Please SHARE this article out, to warn your family and friends!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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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.
Will your phone get hacked if you scan the TNG RFID bar code?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-11-17 : Added new version, and more details. Originally posted @ 2023-05-10
Claim : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Can Hack Your Phone!
This warning about an RFID bar code scam has gone viral on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that scammers are sending people free TNG RFID stickers, and asking them to scan the bar code.
Allegedly, scanning the TNG RFID bar code will cause your phone to be hacked by these scammers!
They send the RFID to you. When you scan the bar code they hack your hp It’s a scam
他们将 RFID 发送给您。 当您扫描条形码时，他们会入侵您 这是一个骗局
Mereka menghantar RFID kepada anda. Apabila anda mengimbas kod bar mereka menggodam anda Ia satu penipuan ☠️👻💩😱😰
If you get this free RFID card via courier, please throw away. Another scam.
Truth : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Will NOT Hack Your Phone!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : TNG RFID Bar Code Cannot Hack Your Phone
First of all – let me just say that the TNG RFID bar code cannot hack your phone. In fact, no one can hack your phone just because you scan an RFID bar code.
The bar code is nothing more than a series of numbers, which you can readily see printed under the bar code. These numbers cannot possibly hack your phone / smartphone.
Fact #2 : TNG Bar Code Is Used To Register RFID Sticker
The bar code visible in the clear window of the TNG RFID self-fitment kit is merely the serial number for the RFID sticker (also known as an RFID tag).
This serial number is used to register the RFID sticker, by scanning scan the bar code using the TNG eWallet mobile app. All it does is link the RFID sticker to your TNG eWallet account, so that all toll charges are automatically deducted from that account.
Fact #3 : TNG RFID Swapping Can Be Easily Detected
One of our readers suggested that the scammer might have swapped out the bar code, to trick you into registering a different TNG RFID sticker owned by the scammer.
This would allow the scammer to use his/her TNG RFID sticker to go through highway tolls for free, while you would be charged for his/her travels.
While that is plausible, it would be quickly detected by the victim who would not be able to use the RFID sticker to get through the toll. The victim would also be able to detect the illegal charges to his/her TNG eWallet account.
One of our readers suggested that the scammer may be trying to trick people into scanning the barcode of a duplicated RFID sticker. The scammer can then use the duplicate RFID sticker to go through tolls, which would be charged to the victims’ TNG eWallet accounts.
Now, Touch ‘n Go has not revealed much about how it is protecting its RFID stickers, only saying that each TNG RFID sticker has an embedded radio-frequency chip that makes every sticker “unique to each customer”.
But that suggests that the RFID stickers are not only encrypted, the chip has a private key that prevents duplication, which makes a lot of sense. Without such encryption and private key, anyone can literally just read the number off any RFID sticker in a parking lot, and duplicate it in a programmable RFID sticker.
Unless the scammer has somehow stolen the private keys, and can perfectly duplicate the RFID stickers, this seems like an improbable scam. More so when the scammers would be limited to using the tolls for free. Hardly worth the effort, if you ask me.
Fact #5 : There Are Easier + Cheaper Ways To Hack Your Phone
Truth be told – there are far easier and cheaper ways to hack your phone, than send you a free RFID sticker and ask you to scan the bar code.
These scammers will have to put in considerable expense and technical expertise into hacking the TNG eWallet app, and inserting their malware that the fake RFID number would trigger.
But why bother? If they can hack the TNG eWallet, they don’t even need to send you any fake RFID bar code to scan!
Making fake RFID stickers (tags) that look like genuine TNG RFID self-fitment kits costs money. Sending these fake kits also put them at risk, because deliveries can be traced.
There are many other ways to compromise your smartphone. There is simply no reason why scammers to waste time and money on such a convoluted scheme.
The most plausible explanation for receiving a free TNG RFID sticker out of the blue is that it was wrongly delivered to you. If you receive one, check the name and address on the package. It may not be meant for you. In that case, contact the delivery company and have them resend it to the right person.
I have also personally experienced receiving packages that I did not order, some of which appear to be sent due to a database error of some sort – my name and phone number are on the package, but the address was wrong or non-existent.
Out of an abundance of caution, just don’t install any RFID sticker that you did not order. Or you can call up TNG to verify that the RFID sticker is legitimate.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Is the MyKasih Foundation giving out RM1000 or RM1200 cash aid via its mobile app?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Get Free Cash Via MyKasih App!
Many people are getting messages about getting free cash through the MyKasih Foundation on WhatsApp and Telegram, from their family members and friends:
Terkini: Bantuan Percuma RM1000 Ke Dalam MyKad : Rujuk Cara Semakan & Syarat Kelayakan
Latest: Free RM1000 Assistance Into MyKad : How To Check & Eligibility Conditions
Jom claim RM1200
MyKasih Foundation : Cek MyKad Boleh Dapat Wang RM1000 Secara Percuma
MyKasih Foundation : Check MyKad To Get Free RM1000
Bantuan Tambahan STR 2023 MySARA RM800: Semakan Status & Tarikh Bayaran
Additional STR 2023 MySARA Assistance RM800: Check Status & Payment Date
This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : MyKasih Free Cash Initiative Is A Scam!
First, let me just point out that these messages on WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as the websites promoting the MyKasih free cash initiative is a scam!
The Malaysian government have already labelled these free cash offers as FAKE NEWS on Facebook and Twitter. Here is a non-exhaustive list of links that have been identified as scam links:
my.mykasihh.online
l.my-kasihapp.com
apps-mykasih.co/twe
There’s no need to memorise these links. These scammers will keep changing them.
Just know that the official MyKasih website is www.mykasih.com.my. Do NOT go to any other website when it comes to the MyKasih Foundation website.
Fact #2 : Those Accounts Were Hijacked
Those viral messages are actually coming from WhatsApp and Telegram accounts that have been hijacked by scammers. That’s why they are so convincing.
Those are really the actual WhatsApp and Telegram accounts of your family members or friends. But they have been taken over by scammers using tricks like the screenshot hack.
Take this opportunity to tighten the security of your own Telegram and WhatsApp accounts, by turning on two-step verification!
As part of its initiative to help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation this year, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced SARA (Sumbangan Asas Rahmah).
However, the SARA cash aid is only RM600, and limited to the hardcore poor. There is no way for anyone to get RM800, RM1000 or RM1,200 in SARA cash aid from the government.
RM100 x 6 months is credited directly into the MyKad of eligible hardcore poor, allowing them to purchase a limited list of essential goods from grocery stores and supermarkets across Malaysia, from July to December 2023.
In Sabah and Sarawak, the RM600 is credited directly into the bank account, or provided as cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional branches.
Fact #4 : SARA Recipients Are Automatically Selected
There is no need to apply for SARA cash aid. For one thing – it only applies to the hardcore poor. If you are reading this on a computer or a smartphone, you very likely do not qualify as “hardcore poor”.
SARA recipients are automatically determined using the existing eKasih Hardcore Poor data, and includes those who had earlier qualified for the STR 2023 cash aid.
Fact #5 : Real Website Asks Only For Your MyKad
Qualification for the SARA cash aid of RM600 is based entirely on your MyKad number.
On the official Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) website, you can check for your eligibility using your MyKad number only.
The fake websites look just like the real SARA website, but instead of asking for your MyKad number, they will ask you for your mobile number and ask you to submit a TAC number.
Needless to say – these are scam websites. You should NEVER submit your phone number or any TAC codes.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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.
Was Joe Biden just caught receiving almost a quarter million dollars worth of laundered Chinese money?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Joe Biden Caught Receiving Laundered Chinese Money!
People are sharing videos, articles, etc. that claim or suggest that US President Joe Biden just got caught receiving almost a quarter million dollars worth of laundered Chinese money!
Still No Evidence Joe Biden Received Chinese Money!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / propagated by Republicans (and useful idiots) of the MAGA persuasion, as well as pro-Russia supporters (vatniks), and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Joe Biden Has Not Been Referred For Impeachment
The Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, James Comer – a Republican from Kentucky, has publicly claimed TWICE that he has evidence of Joe Biden receiving Chinese money.
Yet, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has not yet referred President Joe Biden for impeachment proceedings, or call for a Special Council to prosecute him. What are they waiting for?
Fact #2 : There Was No Evidence Of Corruption
On both occasions, Comer only provided a scan copy of a personal cheque issued to Joe Biden by his brother, James Biden and James’ wife, Sara Biden, as “evidence” of corruption.
October 20, 2023 Press Release
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today announced the committee obtained bank records revealing a $200,000 direct payment from James and Sara Biden to Joe Biden in the form of a personal check.
November 1, 2023 Press Release
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today released a video and bank records memorandum revealing how Joe Biden received $40,000 in laundered China money from the account of his brother, James Biden, and his sister-in-law, Sara Biden, in the form of a personal check.
Neither personal cheques from his brother or his brother’s wife are actual evidence that President Joe Biden received “laundered Chinese money”. They are only evidence that Joe Biden received money from his brother, and his brother’s wife.
If that is the bar for evidence of corruption and/or receiving “laundered Chinese money”, then many of us who received money from our relatives are guilty of corruption and/or receiving laundered foreign money. That sounds stupid? Yes, that’s exactly how stupid the so-called “evidence” against Joe Biden really looks.
Fact #3 : Cheques Were For Personal Loan Repayment
The two cheques clearly stated that they were to pay Joe Biden for a (personal) loan. You know – the kind family members often give out to their brothers or sisters who are in financial trouble. The words “Loan repayment” was even stated clearly in the front of the two cheques.
I should point out that Comer was not able to prove that these were not loan repayment cheques. He only said he would view the $200,000 cheque as “troubling” even if it was for a loan repayment, because it came on the same day James Biden received $200,000 from a struggling health company he did business with.
Wow! Imagine that – it was “troubling” for Comer to see someone receive repayment for a personal loan he made out to his own brother, just because it appears that his brother received the money from a company he did business with.
Fact #4 : Joe Biden Loaned His Brother Money
James Comer also claimed that he did not “believe” that Joe Biden actually loaned his brother money.
When Democratic members of his committee and a lawyer for James Biden said that the committee has documents to prove that Joe Biden did indeed loan $200,000 to James Biden, Comer declared that the Democrats were “lying”, and said that “at the end of the day, there’s no document that shows there was a loan”.
CNN fact checker Daniel Dale revealed on 31 October 2023, that they were able to obtain the same banking records that Comer’s committee received, and they showed that President Joe Biden loaned his brother $200,000 less than two months prior to the James Biden “loan repayment” cheque for the same amount.
The banking records that both CNN and Comer’s committee had access to showed that Joe Biden sent a $200,000 wire transfer to James Biden on January 12, 2018. James Biden then issued the $200,000 loan repayment cheque on March 1, 2018.
The top Democrat on Comer’s committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, even wrote to rebuke Comer, pointing out that there is “clear evidence that this transaction was a short-term, interest-free loan between brothers“.
[T]he bank records provided to the Committee clearly show that President Biden had $200,000 wired to his brother on January 12, 2018.
Despite this clear evidence that James Biden received a loan from his brother on January 12, 2018, and paid him back 48 days later with a check for the same amount marked ‘loan repayment,’ you continue to misrepresent the facts.”
In short – Comer’s committee appears to have documents showing that there was a loan from Joe Biden to James Biden, so the loan repayment was legitimate, and not actual evidence of corruption or money laundering.
Fact #5 : Joe Biden Was A Private Citizen At That Time
This may seem like a small point, but it is an important one to make. These personal loans and loan repayments between Joe Biden and his brother all occurred in 2017-2018.
At that time, Joe Biden was not President. Heck, he was not even a Presidential candidate – he did not announce his 2020 Presidential bid until April 25, 2019.
In other words – there is simply no question of Joe Biden abusing the power of his office (he had none at that time) to enrich himself with foreign money.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Is Bill Gates facing life behind bars after investigators reveal that the billionaire is about to be prosecuted for child rape?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bill Gates Is Facing Life Behind Bars For Child Rape!
People are sharing an article by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), suggesting or claiming that Bill Gates is facing life behind bars after investigators reveal that the billionaire is about to be prosecuted for child rape!
Here is an excerpt from the article, which is absurdly long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Bill Gates Facing Life Behind Bars on Child Rape Charges
Bill Gates has already lost his marriage due his friendship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but he is about to lose a whole lot more, according to investigators who revealed the globalist billionaire is about to be thrown under the bus and prosecuted on child rape charges.
Gates isn’t the only global elite facing charges. A whole host of household names, including members of the US House and Senate, are currently sweating as the walls close in on them.
Epstein’s Little Black Book revealed it is not just politicians who are compromised in the worst possible way. Titans of industry and globalist elites including Bill Gates feature prominently. But we already knew that when Melinda Gates divorced her husband because he wouldn’t break off his creepy friendship with the convicted pedophile with his island full of underage sex slaves.
Mainstream media don’t want you to know this, but there are still court cases ongoing involving Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and their victims. Mainstream media don’t want you to know because they are desperately prevent the release of the Epstein client list.
Why are they so keen to keep it under wraps? Because the media is the PR department of the global elite – and Epstein’s client list will blow their cozy little world apart once and for all.
Mainstream media is desperately trying to keep these names out of the news, so it is worth going over the confirmed list of elites in Epstein’s orbit that we know about from the discovery processes of the cases earlier this year.
This doesn’t mean these elites are 100% clients and co-conspirators in Epstein’s worse crimes, but these people were close to him, socializing with him, and doing business with him. These are the elites we know for sure were in Epstein’s ring.
Tom Pritzker, Hyatt Hotels chairman.
Sergei Brin, Google co-founder.
Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate mogul.
Jes Staley, former JPMorgan CEO.
Lawrence Summers, Bill Clinton’s Treasury Secretary.
Ehud Barak, former Israel Prime Minister.
Woody Allen, Hollywood director.
Barnaby Marsh, author and philanthropist.
Glenn Dubin, billionaire hedge fund manager.
Kathryn Ruemmler, Obama White House counsel
Prof. Noam Chomsky
Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase CEO.
Reid Hoffman – Linkedin co-founder and Trump-hater.
And perhaps most disturbing of all, William Burns, Biden’s current CIA Director.
All of these names are noteworthy and it’s worth digging deeper into all of them.
Truth : Bill Gates Is Not Facing Life Behind Bars For Child Rape!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : The People’s Voice Provided No Evidence
The introduction to The People’s Voice article claimed that “investigators” revealed that Bill Gates is about to be “prosecuted on child rape charges“.
But if you actually read the long, rambling article, you will realise that it actually does not provide any evidence that any law enforcement official has actually revealed that Bill Gates is going to be “prosecuted on child rape charges“.
In fact, Bill Gates was only mentioned 4 times in the entire article body. Other than the introduction which claimed that he’s about to be prosecuted for child rape, the article itself did not once say that Bill Gates was about to be charged for child rape.
This is as exciting as going to the theatre to watch a movie starring Tom Cruise, and seeing his face plastered on the movie poster… only to find out in the actual movie that he was merely recorded in the background walking with his son Connor. Totally lame.
Fact #2 : Bill Gates Has Not Been Prosecuted For Child Rape
To be clear – Bill Gates has not been prosecuted for child rape. In fact, there is no known investigation tying him to any child rape.
On top of that – The People’s Voice article itself does not actually say that he has been prosecuted for child rape. In fact, most of the article appears to avoid mentioning Bill Gates!
Fact #3 : Melinda Gates Message Appears To Be Fake
The Melinda Gates post telling Bill Gates that “It’s prison time” and that “Epstein blackmailed” him appears to be completely fabricated.
Even though it served as the cover image for The People’s Voice video, it was not mentioned or shown even once in the 11-minute long video. It was also poorly mosaiced, which allowed us to make out some of the words:
It’s prison time Bill.
You’re a sick (sonofabitch?) for abusing those children.
I have it all on tape.
Epstein blackmailed you and it’s catching up with (you?)
I hope they throw away (the key?)
Don’t attempt to speak to me or our children.
Melinda Gates has never posted such a thing to her former husband. If she did, it would have been international news.
I should also point out that she uses her full name – Melinda French Gates, instead of just Melinda Gates, in her social media accounts.
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is A Fake News Website
The People’s Voice is the new name / brand for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I personally fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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.
Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been found guilty and convicted on all counts of defrauding customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX!
Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted : Guilty Of FTX Fraud!
Sam Bankman-Fried, who is also known simply as SBF, has been found guilty on all counts of defrauding the customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX, on Thursday, 2 November 2023.
The former crypto billionaire stood and faced the jury that delivered its verdict after just four hours of deliberations. He was found guilt on all seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money, and now faces decades in prison at a separate sentencing hearing set for 28 March 2024.
The jury verdict brought an end to nearly a month of court proceedings, which saw his closest friends and partners turn witness against the former crypto king, and one of cryptocurrency’s most public faces.
Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history – a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the King of Crypto. This case has always been about lying, cheating, and stealing, and we have no patience for it.
– Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams
SBF maintained his innocence right to the end, maintaining that while he made mistakes, he acted in good faith. After his conviction, his lawyer issued this statement:
We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed with the result. Mr Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him
– Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer, Mark Cohen
It is currently unknown if SBF plans to appeal the verdict. In any case, this won’t be the last we see of him, as Bankman-Fried is also set to go on trial on a second set of charges brought by prosecutors earlier this year, for alleged foreign bribery and bank fraud conspiracies.
Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction : Warning To Other Fraudsters
After the jury convicted SBF, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams warned other fraudsters to take note of his fate.
When I became US attorney, I promised we would be relentless in rooting out corruption in our financial markets. This is what relentless looks like. This case moved at lightning speed – that was not a coincidence, that was a choice.
This case is also a warning to every fraudster who thinks they’re untouchable, that their crimes are too complex for us to catch, that they are too powerful to prosecute, or that they are clever enough to talk their way out of it if caught.
Those folks should think again and cut it out. And if they don’t, I promise we’ll have enough handcuffs for all of them.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction was all but guaranteed after three of his former close friends and colleagues, including former on-off girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him in hopes of reducing their own sentences. They are to be sentenced at a later date.
They helped convict SBF by presenting evidence that the crypto-trading firm Alameda Research received deposits on behalf of FTX customers from the early days of the exchange, when traditional banks were unwilling to let it open an account.
Bankman-Fried was accused of swindling FTX customers out of some $10bn. Prosecutors said that his fraud extended from 2019 to November 2022, when FTX collapsed under the weight of a liquidity crisis, caused by the lending of customer funds to Alameda Research, without FTX customer’s knowledge or approval.
Instead of safeguarding FTX customer funds, SBF used the money to repay Alameda lenders, buy property and make investments, as well as political donations. When FTX went bankrupt in November 2022, Alameda owed it US$8 billion.
He took the money. He knew it was wrong. He did it anyway, because he thought he was smarter and better and that he could figure his way out of it.
Before FTX’s collapse of his companies, Sam Bankman-Fried was known for appearing frequently in Washington and in the media to promote cryptocurrency. Despite a market downturn, the rapid growth of FTX earned him the moniker – king of crypto, which now appears to be a mirage.
Caroline Ellison testified that Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to shuttle customer funds into Alameda after the spring 2022 crypto downturn. Alameda was saddled with billions of dollars in open-term loans, and lenders started demanding their money back that summer. Alameda couldn’t repay the loans, and Bankman-Fried blamed Ellison for not hedging the fund’s money earlier that year.
Wang similarly implicated his former friend, naming “Sam Bankman-Fried, Nishad Singh and Caroline Ellison”, when the prosecution asked, “Who are the main people you committed these crimes with?”
Wang also told jurors that Sam Bankman-Fried wasn’t shocked by FTX’s massive debt. After telling him about the debt, SBF said “that sounds correct” with “a neutral demeanor”.
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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 : It’s Not Dangerous To Exit WhatsApp Scam Groups!
This viral warning was likely created by well-meaning but clueless Internet “experts” who are apparently not tech-savvy enough to understand what’s going on.
Fact #1 : No Evidence Of WhatsApp Exit Group Hacking
First, let me just point out that there is no evidence that anyone was ever hacked after using the Exit Group link to get out of any WhatsApp group, whether they are scam groups or otherwise.
Even if an enterprising hacker / scammer was able to create a message with a fake Exit Group button that downloads an APK (Android Package Kit) file, it won’t automatically install that file. You will need to manually install the APK file from the Downloads folder.
Those who know how to do that would be tech-savvy enough to avoid installing APK files from unknown sources. Those who don’t know how to do that would not be able to install the downloaded APK file.
Fact #2 : WhatsApp Exit Group Option Is Genuine
The truth is – the Exit Group link that you may see in new messages from strangers is not a scam or a trick. It also does not download or install any APK file.
The Exit Group link is actually a safety feature in WhatsApp, that appears if you have been added to a WhatsApp group by someone who is not in your contact list – like a scammer, for example.
Once you open the new group you have been added to, WhatsApp warns you that you were added by someone who isn’t a contact. You are then given the option to exit the group, or click OK to continue.
There is really nothing malicious about this Exit group link in WhatsApp. Clicking on it to exit any WhatsApp group won’t harm you in any way, or cause your phone to be hacked.
The WhatsApp Exit group link offers an easy way to quickly remove yourself from a group you don’t want to be in. However, the older exit group methods still work, in case you prefer to use them:
Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Exit group.
An even better option is to actually report the scam group, while quitting it and removing the chat at the same time.
Report + Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Report
Make sure the Exit group and delete chat option is checked.
Tap Report to report and quit from the group, and delete the chat.
Fact #4 : WhatsApp + Telegram Scam Groups Are Real
Before I leave, I just want to remind all of you that there are many scam groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.
If you are added to any of these scam groups, just exit them without a thought. Do not read anything posted in these scam groups, lest you fall for the scam!
That’s why scammers often try to convince you to check out the group first, and “don’t rush to leave the group”:
Hello everyone! Please don’t rush to leave the group, thank you all for taking the time to read this message!
Ignore whatever they post in those scam groups. Hit the Exit group link, or better still – REPORT the group to WhatsApp / Telegram!
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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.
Are scammers sending bank letters with a QR code that can steal your money?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Bank Letter With QR Code Is A Scam!
People are sharing a photo of a letter from a bank, claiming that the QR code in the letter can steal your money if you scan it with your phone!
Circulating In WhatsApp : If you get a letter from the bank like this and ask to update the book using the QR CODE provided in the letter that was sent, don’t ever scan it, you will lose all your daily savings or old age savings, this is another scammer’s work and method take your money, please spread it to everyone so that siblings, relatives, neighbors & family members are not affected by this kind of scam…
This is likely another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : This Is Old Fake News
First, let me just point out that this photo is not new. It first went viral, with a voice message in August 2022, and has subsequently gone viral on and off over the last year or so.
Fact #2 : CIMB Letter Was Genuine
The letter, which was sent by CIMB, is genuine. CIMB even posted a reply to one viral tweet, that the letter was genuine:
FYI, this [letter] is genuinely from our bank.You can refer to the link below for more information: [link no longer available]
[U]ntuk makluman, ia adalah sah dari pihak kami. Anda boleh rujuk pautan di bawah bagi maklumat lanjut: [link no longer available]
Fact #3 : CIMB Letter Was Only Sent To Business Customers
The letter was not meant for consumers, and was only sent to CIMB business customers, to request that they update their company/organisation’s information.
Re: Update on your records to improve your banking experience
We refer to the above mattes and our letter dated 27/06/2022.
We note that you have vet to update your company/organisations information with us.
As part of the Bank’s ongoing process to know our customers better and provide a seamless banking experience, we would like to remind you to return the completed Customer Information Update form to us
This letter appears to be CIMB’s efforts to comply with KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements set out by regulators like Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
QR codes is a type of barcode, which allows people and companies to share / deliver information, that can include links. QR codes can lead you to malicious websites, but they cannot deliver malware, or hack your computer or smartphone.
The QR code in the CIMB bank letter isn’t malicious. It actually codes for a link to the CIMB website. You can verify it by simply scanning the QR code in that “CIMB scam letter”. You will see that it only leads to http://www.cimb.com.my/bizupdate [which no longer exists]
Ultimately, this viral warning was likely created by well-meaning but clueless Internet “experts” who are apparently not tech-savvy enough to even verify the QR code by simply scanning it!
Fact #5 : Form Was To Be Emailed / Delivered
The CIMB letter asked its business customers to download and fill in a form. However, that form was not to be submitted online.
Rather, the letter specifically asked its business customers to email the completed form to a legitimate CIMB email address, or to physically mail or courier it to the bank itself.
Scan the QR Code below to download the form. Once you have completed the form, please submit by email to cimb_updates@cimb.com or mail/courier to the address below within 21 days from the date of this letter, failing which, the Bank reserves the right to suspend or close the account in accordance with the account terms and conditions.
In a real scam, you will be asked to taken to a fake CIMB bank website, and asked to logged into your bank account. That’s how the scammer gets hold of your bank login credentials.
However, even that scam won’t work without access to your TAC (Transaction Authorisation Code), which is sent to your phone by SMS, or authenticated through the bank’s mobile app.
For certain, scammers cannot log into your bank account by simply gaining your company’s information through a form, unless you actually include your company’s bank account login details!
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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.
Is there a new malware scam involving a PayNow PDF?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WhatsApp Block Button Is A Scam!
People are sharing this warning about a new malware scam involving a PayNow PDF. Take a look!
I just received below the latest and new scams Modus Operandi from my Uncle. Forward to warn and share. ======================
The scammers have changed their modus operandi. They don’t ask you to download the app. My neighbour told me yesterday that her sister (a cancer patient) wanted a part-time helper to clean her house. Hence, she went to Facebook. I called the number and made the request. The advertiser asked whether she had a Paynow, and she said that she had. He directed her to make the partial payment, and he will send the invoice to confirm. (Note: He did not ask her to download an app, as people are getting alerts). When she received the invoice in the PDF format, she did not suspect any foul play and clicked it. The invoice showed the amount paid and the balance to be paid. After that, she went to sleep. The next morning, her phone could not be switched on. She used her laptop to check her DBS bank account. Her $20K was gone, and her two fixed deposits of $25K, which had not reached the maturity date, were also gone—the total loss was $ 70K. When she went to the bank and asked why her fixed deposit was also gone, the receptionist told her that digital banking allows you to transfer the amount back to your account to facilitate withdrawals without going to the bank. Police told her the malware was embedded in the PDF document. So folks, beware that the scammers are always changing their modus operandi to con your money $$$! 😡😡😡
This is likely another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Evidence Of PayNow PDF Scam
First, let me just point out that there is no evidence that anyone was ever scammed by a PayNow PDF invoice.
There has been no actual news report of such a case, never mind multiple cases involving malicious PayNow PDF documents.
Frankly, I don’t know of any PDF malware that can shut down a phone, and transfer money from a bank account, including liquidating fixed deposits!
Fact #2 : PDF Malware Generally Target Computers
PDF documents can contain malware, but malicious PDFs generally target Windows computers. In fact, many aren’t actual PDF documents, but are instead executable files masquerading as PDF files – invoice.pdf.exe, for example.
Malicious PDF documents or executables targeted at Windows computers won’t work on smartphones. The malicious PDF must not only be specifically designed to target smartphones, it must target the right operating system – iOS or Android. A malicious PDF targeting Android won’t work on an Apple iPhone, for instance.
On top of that, many PDF malware actually exploit vulnerabilities in a specific PDF reader – most commonly, the industry-standard Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most smartphones do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, and instead rely on a variety of PDF readers like Samsung Note, OneDrive, Google Drive, Kindle, etc.
Embedded PDF malware that target vulnerabilities in the Adobe Acrobat Reader won’t work with other PDF readers. That’s probably why it’s rare to see PDF malware that target smartphones.
Singapore reported 477 cases of PayNow scams in 2021, with 133 more cases in 2022. However, they were not due to PDF malware. Rather, their victims were deceived into giving scammers their digital banking credentials.
In other words, PayNow scams have so far involved phishing attacks, in which victims are tricked into logging into fake websites, or giving up their Internet banking login details by phone.
In one of these scams, victims received phone calls from people pretending to be bank employees. The callers would ask for the victims’ personal details, such as their Internet banking usernames and passwords, under the pretext that the bank needed them to verify transactions in their accounts.
Fact #4 : Singapore Police Warned About Android Malware
It seems likely that the viral warning is based on a misunderstanding of a Singapore Police Force warning about Android malware withdrawing money through PayNow.
Issued on 17 June 2023, the Singaporean police warned that scammers were tricking victims into installing an Android Package Kit (APK) file through WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Once installed, the malware allows the scammers to remotely access the victims’ devices, and steal their passwords.
The victims are then directed to fake websites that mimic banks like DBS to key in their banking credentials. The login information obtained through this phishing attack then allows the scammers to withdraw their victims’ money through PayNow.
To be clear – this PayNow scam does NOT involve any PDF. It requires the victim to install an APK file – to gain access of your 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) device, and provide bank login information through a fake (phishing) website.
This allows the scammers to log into your bank account using the login info you provided, and authenticate all transfers using your mobile phone.
Here are some simple cybersecurity tips to help you avoid getting scammed online:
Never install APK files (for Android) from unknown or untrustworthy sources.
Never sideload IPA files (for Apple iOS) from unknown or untrustworthy sources.
Always check the entire filename, including its file extension:
– PDF documents should end with .pdf, and not .pdf.apk or .pdf.ipa or .pdf.exe.
– Word documents should end with .doc or .docx, and not .doc.apk or .doc.ipa or .doc.exe.
Never click on any link to go to any bank website. Always type in the link yourself into a web browser, or better still – use the official app issued by the bank.
Never give your bank login details to any person, even if they claim to be a police officer, a bank officer, or even a cybersecurity expert!
Never give your 2FA authentication code / TAC or OTP number to any person, even if they claim to be a police officer, a bank officer, or even a cybersecurity expert!
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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.
Can the StopNCII website remove all of your nude or deep fake or Photoshopped photos from the Internet?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : StopNCII Can Remove All Nude / Deep Fake Photos!
People are sharing this advice on WhatsApp and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, claiming that the StopNCI website can remove all of your nude or deep fake or Photoshopped photos from the Internet!
Attention girls! If someone edits your photo with Al or Photoshop to create a nude photo, then you go to stopncii.org and submit the original photo and the edited photo.
They’ll remove the edited photo from all the places on the Internet and your identity will be confidential. Please immediately inform the cyber cell and file a case to take immediate action.
Truth : StopNCII Cannot Remove All Nude / Deep Fake Photos!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : StopNCII Does Not Remove Photos / Videos
First, let me just point out that the StopNCII website is a project by the Revenge Porn Helpline, which is itself a part of the UK-based charity, SWGfL.
StopNCII is not a government organisation, or even a multinational / international organisation that controls what gets posted on the Internet. It does not have any power or authority or even capability to remove a single photo or video.
To be clear – StopNCII cannot remove all of your photos or videos from the Internet. No organisation can.
Fact #2 : You Don’t Upload Photos / Videos To StopNCII
The advice to upload your nude or edited photos or videos to the StopNCII website is nonsensical. So is the claim that you must also upload your original photos or videos.
StopNCII does not require you to upload your nude / edited photo or video, or your original photo or video.
In fact, StopNCII does not even require you to upload a single photo or video. It merely scans the photos or videos that you are concerned about.
Those photos or videos do not leave your devices (computers, tablets, and smartphones).
Fact #3 : StopNCII Only Generates Digital Hashes
StopNCII only scans the photos or videos that you select on your device, and generate their digital fingerprints (hashes). It does not download or keep your nude photos or videos.
Select the image(s)/video(s) on your device that you would like to protect. Remember, your image(s)/video(s) do not leave your device, they will only be scanned so a unique “hash,” or digital fingerprint, can be generated.
Fact #4 : Photos / Videos Are Only Removed On Certain Platforms
StopNCII itself does not remove any photos or videos, whether they are nude or edited. Instead, they rely on a limited number of partner platforms to do that:
Facebook
TikTok
Reddit
Instagram
Bumble
OnlyFans
Threads
Pornhub
Only these platforms will receive cases and the digital hashes (fingerprints) from StopNCII.
Fact #5 : Not All Photos / Videos Will Be Removed
Even on those supported platforms, it’s not a guarantee that those photos / videos submitted to StopNCII will be removed.
Those platforms will scan their systems for those digital hashes, and remove them if they are found to have violated their intimate image abuse policy.
This is to avoid the StopNCII system from being abused to remove photos or videos that are not sexual, abusive, personal, or illegal in any way.
Once generated the ‘hash’ will be shared with the participating companies.
Participating companies will look for matches to the hash and remove any matches within their system(s) if it violates their intimate image abuse policy.
The Revenge Porn Helpline reported a 90% removal rate on those platforms since 2015. While that is impressive, that tells us that some 10% of all reported photos or videos were determined not to have contravened the policies of those partner platforms.
Fact #6 : No One Can Remove All Photos / Videos From Internet
Even if StopNCII is able to partner with every single social media platform, large and small; or Internet service providers, it simply cannot help you remove all of your nude photos or videos from the Internet.
That’s because once released on the Internet, those photos or videos (whether nude or edited) can be transmitted through many means – messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, or email and file-sharing services.
They can also be posted or stored on independent websites / servers on the Internet or the dark web, that no one can shut down. There are revenge porn websites and groups dedicated to this, and it is simply impossible to remove edited / nude photos and videos from those websites and groups.
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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.
Did a Malaysian nurse lose RM380,000 after pressing the Instagram Like button?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Nurse Lost RM380K After Pressing Instagram Like Button!
People are sharing an article which claims that a Malaysian nurse lost RM380,000 after pressing the Like button in Instagram for RM5 commissions! Here is an excerpt from the article:
M’sian Nurse Loses RM380K After Pressing Instagram ‘Like’ Button For RM5 Commission
Too late to unlike
Recently, a nurse supervisor fell victim to an online part-time job scam and lost a staggering RM387,035 after she was tricked into thinking she could enjoy high earnings from it.
M’sian nurse loses RM380K after pressing Instagram ‘like’ button
According to a statement by Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman, he said the 46-year-old victim received a message through WhatsApp offering her a part-time job on September 11.
The scammer then told her that she had to do was to simply press the ‘like’ button on Instagram and earn RM5 in commission for each task she completed.
Completely beguiled, the victim proceeded to accomplish five tasks and received a commission totaling RM25.
“She was then presented with a prepaid assignment which involved making a payment beforehand and was promised of greater profits.
“After making 36 transactions to 21 bank accounts amounting to RM387,035 across 13 days starting from Sept 11, the victim finally realised she had been deceived,” he said.
Nurse Did Not Lose RM380K After Pressing Instagram Like Button!
First of all, I would like to applaud the website for writing about job scams, but that’s really a misleading title.
Unfortunately, many people don’t read beyond the headlines. People are even asking if they will get “hacked” like the nurse if they like Instagram posts!
The truth is – the Malaysian nurse did not lose RM380,000 because she pressed on the Like button in Instagram. In fact, Instagram and its Like button have nothing to do with the actual scam!
Social Media Jobs Are An Easy Lure
As I have earlier written on how fake job syndicates operate, the “job” and “platform” are not important. These scammers generally offer social media jobs, because that’s what most people already use, so it’s easy to hook victims.
These syndicates will offer quick and easy tasks to do on social media, for example – liking Instagram photos and Facebook posts. Other (non-social media) tasks include liking YouTube videos and/or subscribing to YouTube channels, or even making comments on businesses in Google Maps.
Whether the job is on Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Google Maps, etc. is irrelevant. The first few “jobs” you are given are the bait. You will be paid for those simple tasks, like RM5 for liking an Instagram post, or RM10 for subscribing to a YouTube channel. Such an easy way to make money!
Paying For Jobs Is The Scam!
After you get the first payment, you will be asked to participate in a “prepaid job”. All you have to do is pay a “deposit” for the opportunity to make a lot of money in high-paying “jobs”.
At this point, you may feel that this is a genuine side job opportunity. After all, they paid you for the earlier jobs, didn’t they? Real scammers wouldn’t pay their victims, right? WRONG!
Once you make that first deposit, you are “hooked”. The scammers will not let you withdraw the money, but insist that you must continue with the next “prepaid job”, which would require another deposit. Then, you will be asked to pay again to participate in another “prepaid task”, and so on.
On paper, you appear to be earning a lot of money, but you won’t be able to withdraw any of that money. By the time you realise it’s a scam, you would have lost a LOT of money. That is the scam, not pressing on the Instagram Like button.
In the nurse’s case, she fell for their trap to participate in the “prepaid assignment”. She ended up making 36 transactions worth RM387,000 to 21 different bank accounts over 13 days! She not only emptied her savings, she even loaned money from her friends and family members!
Why would any victim do that? Simple – the more money you invest in this fake job offer, the more desperate you will be to recover the money you “invested” and “earned”. To quit would mean losing everything, so you will feel that you have “no choice” but to continue.
To help you make that decision to “stick with the programme”, the syndicate have fake users in their Telegram group continuously posting bank deposit screenshots, while claiming that they just received their earnings.
The truth is – any money you send to their mule accounts will be quickly transferred to the scammers’ account. You will never see the money again.
As one student shared, he lost over RM22,000 in just two days, because he was so engrossed in trying to get back the money he “invested” earlier:
There’s one trick that this scammer is using. He let me start with a small investment, then proceed with stages.
They force me to continue because I want to rescue the money that I put in in the previous task. So it keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Again, I’m glad to see more publicity about fake job scams. But it is important that YOU understand that the scam does not involve the pressing of the Like button in Instagram, or Facebook, or YouTube, or any other online platform.
This is ultimately just another case of a fake job scam. In this nurse’s case, the scammers used the simple job of liking Instagram posts as the lure, but it will be different for other victims. These scammers will use any convenient platform to give you simple jobs to trick you into falling for their scam.
Just remember – there is no such thing as easy social media jobs. Even unscrupulous social media promoters do not need to pay anyone to like a post, or follow someone. They simply use bots (automated software)!
Don’t fall for such fake job scams. No matter how enticing the offer is – NEVER pay for any job.
Please SHARE this article out, and WARN your family and friends!
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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 : Viral Video Does Not Show Bangkok Mall Shooting!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Video Was Posted In Douyin
I traced the video that was posted to Douyin – China’s version of TikTok. The original poster (OP) is a Douyin user called Master ho (@yzz945201314), and here is the direct link to the video.
Fact #2 : Video Was Posted In August 2023
Master ho posted the video on 9 August 2023. The Siam Paragon mall shooting in Bangkok only occurred on 3 October 2023 – almost two months later.
So there is simply impossible for the viral video to be of the Siam Paragon mall shooting in Bangkok.
Fact #3 : Video Was Recorded In Phuket In June 2023
Even though the viral video was only posted to Douyin in August, it was originally recorded more than a month earlier – on Friday, 28 June 2023.
It was also not recorded in the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok. Rather, it was recorded in the Domestic Terminal of the Phuket International Airport.
If you look carefully at the video, you will notice the airport check-in counters, and people carrying luggages. The video was obviously recorded at an airport, and not a mall.
Fact #4 : Siam Paragon Shooter Was Only Armed With Pistol
The Siam Paragon mall shooter was an unnamed 14 year-old teenager from the nearby private secondary school – The Essence.
The boy was only armed with a modified Glock 9mm pistol, and did not have any long guns with him.
The shooter in the viral video was not only armed with a handgun, he also had what looked like an automatic rifle.
Fact #5 : It Was An Active Shooter Drill
The viral video does not show any actual crime, or gun violence taking place. It was an emergency security drill to simulate a response to an “active shooter” in the Phuket International Airport. In the photo above, you can even see a man taking photos or videos of the drill!
The drill was called “Full-scal exercise of Phuket International Airport Emergency Plan (PEMEX 2023), and conducted on the second floor of the Domestic Terminal, at around 11 PM – -after boarding for the final departing domestic flight had cleared the area.
The exercise was designed to simulate the coordinated response of security and anti-terrorism personnel to an active shooter taking hostages in the domestic terminal area. Thai agencies and personnel that took part in this PEMEX 2023 exercise included:
Thai Provincial Police Region 8
Sakhu Police
Phuket Airline Operations Committee (AOC)
Airports of Thailand ground service company (AOTGA)
Airports of Thailand private security company (AOT AVSEC)
Vachira Phuket Hospital
Phuket Provincial Public Health Office
Subdistrict Administrative Organisations (OrBorTor) for Mai Khao, Sakhu, and Thepkrasattri.
The truth is – anyone who analyses the video will realise that there are many “issues” with this video:
the gunshots do not sound like real gunshots
gunshots ring out even when the gunman isn’t shooting
none of the victims are bleeding
the person recording the video is bravely standing up to record the video for almost 2.5 minutes
the person recording the video can be heard laughing at around 0:18 in the video
at around 1:30, another man can be seen recording the scene from the upper floor
Fact #7 : OP Likely Reposted From A Different Source
The Douyin poster, Master ho, does not appear to be the person recording the video. He mistakenly labelled the location as Songkhla Airport – more accurately known as the Hat Yai International Airport in the Songkhla Province.
泰国宋卡机场发生枪击事件，听说是演习农 因 因 因
A shooting incident occurred at Songkhla Airport in Thailand. It was said that it an exercise.
However, he clearly stated in the description, and his subsequent comments, that it was just a drill.
Whoever copied this video from his Douyin account is certainly aware that the video was of an airport drill, and posted almost 3 months earlier.
The only conclusion we can draw from this is that – whoever copied the video to share in October 2023, is intentionally trying to mislead people.
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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.
Can a SIM swap attack empty your bank account without warning?! Take a look at the viral warnings, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-10-07 : Added new viral message, and other updates. Originally posted @ 2022-01-16
Claim : SIM Swap Attack Can Empty Bank Account Without Warning!
This message has gone viral on social media and WhatsApp, warning about a new high tech fraud called SIM Swap Fraud that can empty bank accounts without warning.
The message includes a link to a Straits Times report about a young couple who lost $120,000 in a fake text message scam targeting OCBC Bank customers.
Your BANK Account could be Emptied without an Alert!
Dear All, Please let’s be very careful.. There is a new HIGH TECH FRAUD in town called the SIM SWAP FRAUD, and hundreds of persons are already VICTIMS.
How does it work? 1 A new fraud called SIM SWAP has started. Your phone network will momentarily go blind / zero (No Signal / Zero Bars) and after a while a call will come through.
2 The Person on the other end of the call will tell you that he is calling from (your cell phone company) depending on your network and that there is a problem in your mobile network.
3 He will instruct you to Please press 1 on your phone to get the network back.
– Please at this stage don’t Press anything, Just cut or END the call.
If you press 1, the network will appear suddenly and almost immediately go blind again (Zero Bars) and by that action, your phone is #HACKED.
Within a second they will empty your bank account, and you won’t receive any alert.
What you will experience. It will appear as though your line is without Network, meanwhile your SIM has been SWAPPED. The danger here is that, you will not get any alert of any transactions, so please those of us doing USSD Banking and Mobile Banking BEWARE. Let’s be very careful.
Please, forward to your contacts, loved ones and friends. The fraud is increasing day by day.
Received from a #CybersecurityGroup
Don’t forget to share this post…… I repeat don’t forget to share this post. Many people’s Account as been emptied!
Please encourage more people to learn from this episode
My cousin received a call , asking if he had been vaccinated, if vaccinated to press 1.
If not vaccinated, press 2. As a result, he pressed 1, the phone was blocked and his online bank information/account were all transferred. Please be Alert and Careful and forward to more people to know about this new trick/scam. Forwarded as received.
Your BANK Account can be Empty without Notice.
There is a HIGH TECHNOLOGY SCAM going on at this time called SIM SWAP FRAUD, it is said that hundreds of people have been affected, they suddenly found that their bank accounts were EMPTY
Truth : SIM Swap Attack Is Real, But Don’t Work Like That
The truth is – SIM swap attacks are real and very dangerous, but they do not work like the viral messages claim.
Here is what you need to know about the viral message, and SIM swap attacks.
Fact #1 : SIM Swap Attacks Are Not New
SIM swap attacks are really not new. Scammers have been using SIM swap attacks since 2015, if not earlier.
Fact #2 : SIM Swap Warnings Are Mostly False
The viral message is correct about the risk of SIM swap attacks, but pretty much wrong about everything else.
In fact, the method by which the SIM swap attack works is completely made up. So the viral message is really FAKE NEWS.
There’s no way your bank account will be emptied without any action on your part. Neither will your bank accounts be emptied because you participate in a COVID-19 vaccination SMS survey.
Fact #3 : No Evidence Of Such Fraud
There is no evidence of SIM swap attacks requiring users to complete the process by responding to an SMS survey about vaccination.
Neither is there any evidence that SIM swap attacks alone can lead to your bank accounts being emptied.
Fact #4 : Straits Times Article Was Not About SIM Swap Attack
One of the viral messages include a link to a Straits Time article to mislead you. That’s because the article was about a phishing attack, not a SIM swap attack.
In that phishing attack, the victim received an SMS with a link that took him to a fake website that “looked exactly like the OCBC login page“. He then keyed in his bank login details, thus handing over control of his bank account to the scammers.
The victim also ignored automated messages warning him that his “account was being setup on another phone“. That had nothing to do with a SIM swap attack. It was an SMS-based phishing attack.
Fact #5 : SIM Swap Attacks Generally Do Not Require Any Action
In most SIM swap attacks, scammers use your personal information, either purchased from other criminals or obtained through earlier phishing attacks or social engineering, to request for a SIM card replacement.
All that does not require any action on your part. In most cases, you only realise you’ve been hit when you lose access to your mobile number.
Fact #6 : SIM Swap Attack May Require Action In Some Cases
The Press 1 claim in the viral message is partially correct, but it only happens in a particular circumstance.
In India, scammers have tricked people by offering a free network upgrade, or to help improve signal quality on their phones :
The scammer will call the victim, claiming to be from their mobile service provider.
The scammer will try to get the victim to reveal his/her 20-digit SIM card number.
The scammer will use the 20-digit SIM number to initiate a SIM swap with the mobile service provider.
The mobile service provider will automatically send an SMS to confirm the swap.
Once the victim confirms the swap, his/her SIM card will stop working.
The scammer now has access to the victim’s mobile number.
Fact #7 : SIM Swap Attack Does Not Hack Your Phone
The SIM swap attack does not involve any hacking of your phone.
You only lose access to your mobile number. Your phone is not hacked.
Fact #8 : SIM Swap Attack Does Not Empty Bank Accounts
Once the scammers successfully gain control of your mobile number, they can use it to intercept one-time passwords (OTP) like TAC numbers.
This allows them to change passwords to your bank accounts, social media accounts, etc. which is why SIM swap attacks are so dangerous and damaging.
However, it does not mean your bank accounts are immediately emptied. For one thing – the scammers need to know your bank login.
That’s why SIM swap victims often have had their bank logins and passwords stolen earlier though phishing attacks. The scammers only need their mobile numbers to receive OTP / TAC numbers to authenticate the transfers.
Fact #9 : SIM Swap Attack Can Be Used To Cheat Friends Too!
Stealing money from your bank account requires extra work, so scammers who do not have your bank login details will resort to cheating your friends.
With access to your phone number, they can easily gain access to your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) as well as instant messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram).
Once they have control, they can send messages to your friends, pretending to be you. Naturally, they will concoct some story to ask your friends for money.
The idea is to use your (now) stolen accounts to convince your friends that you genuinely need their help. The money that they transfer goes directly to the scammers, or their mules (people who rent their bank accounts to scammers).
Now that you know the facts behind the SIM swap attack or scam, please SHARE this article with your family and friends!
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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.
Did Tom Hanks just disable comments on his Instagram account, after being accused of child sex crimes?!
Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Tom Hanks Was Just Accused Of Child Sex Crimes!
People are sharing an article by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), suggesting or claiming that Tom Hanks just disabled comments on his Instagram account, after being accused of child sex crimes?!
Here is an excerpt from the article, which is pretty long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Tom Hanks’ Instagram Flooded With People Demanding His Arrest For ‘Child Sex Crimes’
Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks has disabled comments on his popular Instagram page after tens of thousands of people called him out for alleged child sex crimes and demanded an urgent investigation into his crimes against children.
The activity on Hanks’ social media feeds follows explosive allegations against Hollywood royalty including Hanks and Steven Spielberg, accusing them of being abusive pedophiles.
According to the commenters, Hanks is a prolific pedophile who has been “hiding in plain sight” in the public eye for decades, while flaunting his depraved lifestyle through the use of signs and symbols.
Isaac Kappy, a Hollywood insider known for his appearances in Thor (2011), Fanboys (2009) and Terminator Salvation (2009), among other roles, took to YouTube to open up about the Hollywood sickness, naming and shaming various A-list stars and industry names.
Describing pedophilia as “the Hollywood sickness“, Kappy says, “At the top level, these people are just sick and psycho. This is what’s sad about this. A lot of people are born into it,” he said, describing a broad Hollywood culture of abuse against children.
Kappy mentioned A-list names including Tom Hanks, Michael Jackson, and Steven Spielberg, claiming they will all be remembered by future generations as notorious abusers on par with Jimmy Savile, the notorious elite British child abuser.
The claims against Tom Hanks came after Sarah Ruth Ashcraft announced that she was sold for sex by her father at age 13 years and raped by Hollywood star Tom Hanks.
Truth : Tom Hanks Was Not Just Accused Of Child Sex Crimes!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created about Tom Hanks, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Tom Hanks Appear To Disable Instagram Comments In 2020
There is no evidence that Tom Hanks only recently disabled comments on his Instagram account, due to a deluge of comments about his “child sex crimes”.
After scouring through past snapshots of his Instagram account, it appears that Tom Hanks disabled comments after posting on March 13, 2020 that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, were doing well after getting COVID-19.
According to snapshots from archive.today, Tom Hank appears to have disabled comments on his Instagram post sometime between 2 August 2020 and 13 September 2020.
In other words – Tom Hanks appears to have disabled comments on his Instagram account more than 3 years ago!
Fact #2 : Sarah Ruth Ashcraft Claims Were From 2018
The article appears to claim that these claims against Tom Hanks came after Sarah Ruth Ashcraft announced that her father sold her to Tom Hanks for sex when she was 13 years old.
The trouble is – Sarah Ruth Ashcraft made that claim back in July 2018 – more than 5 years ago. So that accusation is not new.
Fact #3 : No Evidence Tom Hanks Committed Child Sex Crimes
Despite Sarah Ruth Ashcraft publicly accusing Tom Hanks of sexually abusing her while she was under “mind control” over 5 years ago, she did not appear to file any police report, or provide any evidence to back up her claims.
This is me at 13, the age I was when @tomhanks purchased me from my father for sex as a dissociated #mindcontrol doll. I wonder how much he paid? I wonder how much $$$ my father made for breaking my mind & selling my child body throughout my life. Will I ever get to know?
So far, Sarah Ruth Ashcraft is the only person who ever accused Tom Hanks of sexual abuse.
Fact #4 : Sarah Ruth Ashcraft Also Accused Many People Of Sex Crimes
Interestingly, Sarah Ruth Ashcraft also accused other people of sexually abusing her as a child:
As a CHILD while under #MindControl I was sexually abused by politicians, mostly Dems [Democrats], including HRC [Hillary Rodham Clinton], during occult rituals, masonic meetings, & private interactions in my own home in MI near #JohnConyers’ district. Keep looking in his direction you will find MANY perpetrators.
I’ve named some (not all) of the people who abused me as a CHILD, including my parents/family, all my ex-partners, most “friends”, HRC [Hillary Rodham Clinton], Tom Hanks, a Catholic Cardinal, Jonathan Freeman (voice of Jafar in Aladdin), The Roeper School, & Fragomen. There are MANY others. #ItEndsNow
To date, Sarah Ruth Ashcraft has never provided any evidence of actual interactions with those people she named. And she has never provided any evidence she was sexually abused by them.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is A Fake News Website
The People’s Voice is the new name / brand for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I personally fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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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.
Was there mass looting at London’s Oxford Street, as part of a crime wave in Western countries?!
Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Mass Looting At London’s Oxford Street!
Pro-CCP netizens, as well as the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), are sharing a video which appears to show mass looting at London’s Oxford Street, with claims that this is part of a crime wave in Western countries!
Looting London, Oxford St
Also happens in US,France and Australia.Now,also in Sweden.
Truth : There Was No Mass Looting At London’s Oxford Street!
This is yet another example of misinformation and propaganda created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and shared by anti-West netizens, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Video Originated In TikTok
First, the video originated in TikTok, with the poster describing it as a “mass looting stunt” that was planned on social media:
Chaos erupts on Oxford Street amid reports of ‘mass looting stunt’ planned on social media #london #oxfordstreet #clash #chaos #looting #stunt #shopping #shops #uk #news #fyp #foryoupage
Fact #2 : It Only Targeted JD Sports
The so-called looting did not occur at multiple stores at London’s Oxford Street. Rather, it only targeted one store – the JD Sports outlet nearest to Oxford Circus.
There are actually three JD Sports outlets along Oxford Street, but the outlet at 197-203 Oxford Street is the closest to Oxford Circus.
This was not the typical looting that has been going on in certain cities like San Francisco, for example.
The truth is – this was initiated by posts on TikTok and Snapchat calling on users to take part in an “Oxford Circus JD Robbery” at 3 PM on Wednesday, 9 August 2023.
The TikTok and Snapchat posts encouraged yobs (British slang for louts) to follow the dress code of balaclavas and gloves, with the warning – “Don’t come if you can’t run. Don’t come if you’re loud. Don’t come with any weapons“.
London mayor, Sadiq Khan, even issued a warning about the TikTok craze:
I am worried about this nonsense we have seen on TikTok encouraging people to go to Oxford Street.
The viral TikTok and Snapchat posts caught the attention of the Metropolitan Police, which sent dozens of police officers to proactively prevent the “mass looting” event, should it actually take place.
We are aware of online speculation about opportunities to commit crime around Oxford Street. There will be a significant number of our officers in the area over the next 24 hours.
Mounted police officers on horses patrolled Oxford Street, while police officers formed human shields around shops. In the end, hundreds of teenagers gathered outside the JD Sports outlet, but no actual looting took place.
Just after 3 PM, two young men were detained outside McDonald’s near JD Sports. By 8 PM, the Metropolitan police issued 34 dispersal orders and arrested nine people.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the dispersal order, one person was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal, one person arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, and one person was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
Earlier in the afternoon, officers arrested two people in Essex for conspiracy to commit robbery following online social media posts.
However, no actual looting took place at JD Sports or any other store along Oxford Street that day.
Fact #5 : Most People Were There To Take Photos / Videos
While several people were arrested at the “mass looting” event, it appears that most people were there to take photos or videos of any looting that might actually occur due to the “TikTok craze”.
When British media interviewed people at the scene, many said that they were just there to record the “event”:
Harry, 14, from Islington : I’m not here to steal anything, I’ve been raised better than that. I just want to record it.
CJ, 16, from Hertfordshire : We’re not here to steal stuff – there’s loads of famous people making videos. We just saw loads of police and want to see what it’s about.
Many teenagers shared the photos and videos they took on TikTok and Snapchat, some of which appear in the video above.
Fact #9 : This Is Just CCP Propaganda
This is really nothing more than yet another example of CCP propaganda created / promoted by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).
All of the wumao articles that I looked at so far have proven to be false in most instances. So please watch out for such false claims. Here is just the latest dozen,.
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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.
Are street children being used to lure rape / murder / organ harvesting victims?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Street Children Are Being Used To Lure Victims!
This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media, sometimes shared as text, sometimes as screenshots:
URGENT NOTICE Ministry of Home Affairs. From all police stations to all citizens
There are children in the streets now carrying papers with their home address written on it and claiming that they are lost. If you see these children, do not take them to the written address because people are waiting for you there to kill you, steal your organs, or rape you, so we ask you to take them to the nearest police station or the nearest emergency patrol and immediately report them.
Please distribute this. This is true, and we confirm that they hand them over to the nearest police station or the nearest patrol that you find. Don’t try to be a hero or a good Samaritan. Send it to all your contacts. -Rescue Forces.
NOTIS SEGERA
Kementerian Dalam Negeri.
Dari semua balai polis kepada semua rakyat .Terdapat kanak-kanak di jalanan kini membawa kertas dengan alamat rumah mereka tertulis di atasnya dan mendakwa bahawa mereka hilang. Jika anda melihat kanak-kanak ini, jangan bawa mereka ke alamat bertulis kerana orang sedang menunggu anda di sana untuk membunuh anda, mencuri organ anda, atau merogol, jadi kami meminta anda untuk membawa mereka ke balai polis berhampiran atau rondaan kecemasan terdekat dan segera melaporkan mereka.
Tolong edarkan ini. Perkara itu benar, dan kami mengesahkan bahawa mereka menyerahkan mereka ke balai polis terdekat atau peronda terdekat yang anda temui. Jangan cuba menjadi pahlawan atau orang Samaria yang baik. Hantarnya kepada semua kenalan anda.
Truth : Street Children Are Not Being Used To Lure Victims!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Viral Message Has Been Circulating Since 2022
This viral message isn’t new. It has been circulating at least since April 2022, if not earlier. It just keeps going viral on and off on WhatsApp and social media.
The first messages appear to start spreading in Nigeria and Uganda, before going viral in Southeast Asia.
Fact #2 : No Evidence For Street Children Being Used As Bait
There is no evidence that street children are being used to lure victims for criminal gangs looking to kill or rape you, or steal your organs. There is no known case of criminal gangs using street children as bait either.
In fact, it is a rather ridiculous idea. There are easier ways for criminals to target you, than to use street children to lure you in.
Fact #3 : PDRM Calls It Fake News
When the message went viral in Malaysia for the first time in September 2022, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) issued a statement, calling it fake news. Here is the English translation:
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has detected one (1) message spreading on social media that is alleged to be a ‘warning notice from the Ministry of Home Affairs and police stations nationwide’. The message alleges there are people using street urchins who carry papers with their home address as a tactic to get help to be sent home. Any individual who helps bring such children to the alleged address will be killed, organs stolen and raped.
PDRM confirmed that the viral message is fake and was never issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) nor PDRM. An investigation also confirmed that no police reports had been received in relation to criminal incidents as shared.
Human organs are not Legos. You can take Legos from one set and use them in another set, but you can’t take organs from someone and just plunk them into another person.
Harvested or donated organs need to be matched to their recipients, or they will be rejected by the body and fail.
Every donor and recipient needs to undergo three tests to ensure compatibility – blood type, blood cross-matching, and HLA typing. If this is not done, organ rejection is almost a certainty.
This is why it is very unlikely for the criminals to just kidnap anyone just to harvest their organs. They will want to match the donors to the recipients BEFORE they kidnap them.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Is MPH giving away free books on financial planning and stocks?! Find out what’s going on, and warn your family and friends!
Updated @ 2023-09-26 : Added a new version of this scam
Updated @ 2023-08-14 : Added new versions of this scam Originally posted @ 2023-05-20
Watch Out For MPH Free Books Scam!
Scammers are running Facebook advertisements that claim MPH is giving away free books because it has either achieved 500,000 fans, or is shutting down its bookstores!
🎉To celebrate MPH Books breaking 500,000 fans in Malaysia, thank you for your support 👋MPH Books specially prepares best-selling books on financial planning and stocks to give to everyone for free. I hope everyone has to help! limited quantity available. (Free shipping)
📢📢 Sorry everyone, I have to say goodbye to everyone Due to the continuous decline in store performance, the store cannot continue to operate normally 👋👋So the head office decided to close the store and give away the remaining financial and stock books in the store to everyone for free. I hope everyone has to help! 📣📣Finally, thank you again for your long-term support and trust. The book donation activity is the only feedback activity we can do at present! limited quantity available. (free shipping available)
🎉To celebrate the 99 Supermarket Malaysian branch exceeding 1,000, thank you for your support ❤️99 Supermarket specially prepares best-selling books on stocks and gives them to everyone for free
🔥The number of stock books is limited, while supplies last
👋👋Sorry really sorry, this time I really want to say goodbye to everyone! The bookstore can’t continue to operate as sales in the store continue to decline! So the company decided to close the store and give away the remaining financial stock books in the store for free, hope it will help everyone! Limited quantity until delivery lasts. (Free shipping available)
This MPH free book scam is being promoted heavily on Facebook in May 2023, so please alert your family and friend!
Fact #1 : MPH Did Not Close Bookstores In 2023
MPH closed many of its physical stores since June 2020, as it shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns to an online store with a “digitally-driven omnichannel business model”.
MPH has not announced closing down any further bookstores in 2023.
Fact #2 : MPH Reported These Pages / Ads As Fake
MPH is aware of these fake advertisements being run by scam Facebook pages, posting this scam alert on May 9, 2023:
⚠️𝐅𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!⚠️
Hey readers, we noticed that irresponsible parties have been impersonating the MPH brand by creating fake pages and ads to confuse and lure our customers to share their data.
Please note that MPH is not associated in any way with these pages and we DO NOT run any free book giveaways nor do we request customers to PM us your personal details.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our followers and customers for updating us about these pages. We sincerely thank YOU for your continuous support!
Please do NOT be naive. MPH is a business, not a charity. Just because it hits 500,000 fans in Malaysia, it’s not going to give away its books.
Heck, why should it give away books even if it’s closing down its bookstores? It would be more logical for MPH to offer discounts to clear its books, so it won’t lose so much money.
In fact, MPH itself pointed out in its scam warning – “we DO NOT run any free book giveaways“. Why should they? They are a corporation whose business is not make money, not a charity to give you free books!
Fact #4 : Giveaways Were Not Posted In Official Website / FB Page
If MPH was really giving away free books, it would have posted the offer on:
These scams are being run off fake Facebook pages that are brand new, and have nothing to do with the real MPH:
MPH Group Publishing
MPH Book
MPH English Bookstore
Fact #5 : MPH Does Not Use WhatsApp To Communicate
MPH offers a multitude of contact options by email or telephone number. What it does not have is a WhatsApp account. So when scammers message you to collect your “free books” by messaging a WhatsApp number, be warned!
Please add librarian Gek Tiang’s Whatsapp message ”Pm“ to get free stock books (free shipping) Whatsapp: https://xxxx.xx/601170131707
Scammers will try to scare you into contacting them, by telling you that stock is running out. Just ignore them!
There are only 3 free places left, which have been reserved for you, please add and leave a message as soon as possible Whatsapp : https://xxxx.xx/601170131707
There are many friends who have claimed it, please tell us whether you have added it successfully! If you do not add or reply, it means that you will give up the quota by default and automatically transfer it to the next friend. Thank you for your understanding!
Fact #7 : One Victim Lost RM480K To Investment Scam!
In November 2022, a 60 year-old housewife from Port Dickson fell for a similar “free book” scam, and lost almost RM480,000.
After being offered the free book on Facebook, she was asked to join a WhatsApp group called Family Discussion, where she was asked to convinced to “invest”.
The WhatsApp group administrator instructed her to download an application called Forza, and open a savings account. She was then asked to deposit money into certain bank accounts, and upload the slips using that Forza app as proof.
The lady withdrew her savings and borrowed from her children and friends to invest RM476,100. However, when she wanted to withdraw the interest paid by the company, her account was blocked. The group administrator told her that she would need to deposit an additional RM427,200 to withdraw the interest.
That was when the lady realised she had been scammed, and lodged a police report. By then, it was too late – she had already lost every sen she “invested”.
Please help us FIGHT SCAMMERS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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.
Did Russian President Vladimir Putin threaten to release secret satellite evidence of US government’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-09-21 : Added new information on the Pravda article, and the Russian satellite. Originally posted @ 2022-03-11
Claim : Putin Threatened To Release 9/11 Satellite Evidence!
People are sharing a long message which claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to release secret satellite evidence of US government involvement in the 9/11 attacks!
They appear to believe that Putin issued this threat in retaliation for US sanctions against Russia, and military assistance to Ukraine. It’s a long post, so please skip to the next section for the facts…
Putin is going to hit once, but he’s going to hit hard. Russia is preparing the release of evidence of the involvement of the US government and intelligence services in the September 11 attacks. The list of evidence includes satellite images.
Published material can prove the US government complicity in the 9/11 attacks and the successful manipulation of public opinion. The attack was planned by the US government, but exercised using her proxy, so that an attack on America and the people of the United States looked like an act of aggression by international terrorist organizations.
The motive for deception and murder its own citizens served US oil interests and the Middle East state corporations. The evidence will be so convincing that it utterly debunks the official 9/11 cover story supported by the US government.
Russia proves that America is no stranger to using false flag terrorism against its citizens in order to achieve a pretext for military intervention in a foreign country. In the case of “the September 11 attacks,” the evidence will be conclusive satellite imagery.
If successful, the consequences of Putin’s tactics would expose the US government’s secret terrorist policies. The government’s credibility will be undermined and should bring about mass protests in the cities leading to an uprising, according to American analysts..
And as the United States will look on the world political arena? The validity of America’s position as a leader in the fight against international terrorism will be totally undermined giving immediately advantage to rogue states and Islamic terrorists.
Truth : Putin Did Not Threaten To Release 9/11 Satellite Evidence!
This is yet another example of pro-Russia FAKE NEWS that are spamming social media, as well as WhatsApp and Telegram groups. Here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Pravda Article Was Posted In February 2015
The Pravda article (translated archive | original Russian) was actually posted on 7 February 2015, and updated on 10 February 2015. This was specifically mentioned in the 2015 examples :
VT Editor’s note:Russian satellite evidence proving the controlled demolition of the World Trade Center using “special weapons” was reviewed by a VT editor while in Moscow.
The article below was forwarded to us for publication in the US and translated from Russian. It is 3 days old, published on February 7, 2015.
The fake news creators removed that section, to mislead you into thinking that this was a new threat by Putin in 2022 and 2023.
Fact #2 : No Evidence Putin Threatened To Release 9/11 Satellite Photos
Even though the viral post is based on a Pravda article, there never was any evidence that Vladimir Putin himself actually threatened to release satellite photos, or evidence of any 9/11 conspiracy.
The Pravda article itself did not make that claim. It only claimed that Russia is “preparing” to release evidence of the involvement of the US government and intelligence services in the 9/11 attacks.
Fact #3 : Russia Did Not Release Any Evidence Of 9/11 Conspiracy
If the Pravda article is true, then Russia is taking an extraordinarily long time to release evidence of a 9/11 conspiracy by the US government and intelligence services.
Despite preparing for over 8.5 years – since February 2015 – the Russian government has never released any evidence of any conspiracy by the US government in the September 11 attacks.
No satellite imagery… no photos… no documents… no evidence in any form or manner. Why not? Does it take that long to develop and digitise the photos from Russian satellites?
Fact #3 : Russian Satellites Were Terrible In 2001
It would also be quite a feat for Russia to provide “conclusive satellite imagery” as the Pravda article alleges, as Russian electro-optical satellites were not quite “state-of-the-art” in 2001, and that’s being generous.
At that time, they used the Yantar-4K2 (Cobalt / Kobalt) satellite – a slightly improved version of the Yantar-4KS1M (Neman / Неман) satellite, which had a resolution of just under a meter using the Zhemchug-18 camera.
These satellites have a limited lifespan of just 26 to 32 weeks, and used film which could be returned using two small canisters mid-mission, and a larger reentry module at the end.
Russia only had one in operation at that time – (Космос 2377) Cosmos 2377, which was launched on 29 May 2001, and dropped out of orbit on 10 October 2001.
Cosmos 2377 could plausibly have taken photos of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, but the images was likely only as good as the Maxar IKONOS commercial imaging satellite.
Note that the Kobalt satellite is different from the Kobalt-M (Yantar-4K2M) satellite, which features upgraded optics with reported image resolution of 30 cm (0.3m), and a modernised platform. The first Kobalt-M satellite was launched on 24 September 2004.
Fact #4 : There Are Many Satellite Images Of 9/11 Attack
There is no real need for the Russians to share their satellite photos, because there are many publicly-available satellite photos on the September 11 attacks.
The private satellite imaging company, Maxar, for example, shared this high-resolution photo of ground zero at the World Trade Center on 15 September, 2001.
Taken by IKONOS, which had a resolution of 0.82 to 1 metre, it gives you a good idea of the image quality and resolution that are already available for free to the public. So it begs the question – do the Russians really have better images than that?
Despite being extremely useful, imaging satellites not magical instruments. They have limitations in what they can and cannot do.
For example, they have to generally stay in a pre-determined orbit, and “fly through” an area – leaving large gaps during which there is no coverage.
They also cannot look inside or under solid objects – planes, buildings, trees; and their view can be obscured by smoke and clouds, unless they have multi-spectral ability.
You can see how the smoke obscures the picture in this Maxar image taken of the Manhattan financial district on September 11, 2001.
It is therefore highly improbable that any satellite image from way up high would have captured “incriminating evidence” of the US government’s involvement in the September 11 attacks.
In the past 22 years, the many conspiracy theories have all been repeatedly looked into and debunked.
We now know, with absolute certainty, that the September 11 attacks were conceived by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, approved by Osama bin Laden, and carried out by nineteen Al Qaeda terrorists.
There was no US government involvement in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Osama bin Laden himself claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks on several occasions. You don’t need a satellite to know that.
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Did the US government steal $50 trillion worth of gold and oil from Iraq?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-09-19 : Refreshed with updated info Originally published @ 2022-04-12
Claim : US Gov Stole $50 Trillion Of Gold + Oil From Iraq!
People are sharing photos of US soldiers posing with gold bars, as evidence that the United States sold gold and oil from Iraq worth tens of trillions of dollars!
These photos was revived on the 20th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and then on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, as part of the information warfare surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is also being shared and promoted on pro-CCP and pro-Russia groups on social media, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.
Here the US thieves in Iraq. Bringing democracy aka stealing a country’s gold. Same thing they want to do in Russia. But Russia is no Iraq or Libya.
The #US ransacked and plundered the whole of #Iraq. Banks, museums, all of their gold reserves. The US is the biggest gang of thiefs in the whole history. They have raped most of the planet in the last 50 years. #Ukraine #UkraineRussianWar #UkraineRussiaWar #Russia #Putin #NATO
🇺🇸 “liberates” gold & oil while 🇷🇺 liberates humans.
#Denaƶification & #Demilitarization of #UkroNaƶiLand
Truth : US Gov Did Not Steal Gold + Oil From Iraq At All!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and/or propagated to deflect criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : US Did Not Steal $30 Trillion Of Iraqi Oil
Claims that the US stole $30 trillion worth of oil from Iraq are false. The United States did lose track of 8.7 billion dollars worth of Iraqi funds though.
After the invasion of Iraq concluded, Iraqi oil was sold to help fund the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI). Other sources of funds include surplus funds (about USD 10 billion) from the UN Oil-For-Food Program, and the sale of seized Iraqi assets.
The United States did not truck away Iraqi oil, as claimed. In July 2010, the US Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) discovered that the US Department of Defense could not account properly for USD 8.7 billion of DFI funds.
This led the Iraqi Parliament to request the United Nation’s help in demanding that the US return $17 billion of “oil money” that it said was stolen from the Iraqi people :
All the indications are that the institutions of the United States of America committed financial corruption by stealing the money of the Iraqi people, which was allocated to develop Iraq, (and) that it was about $17 billion.
… Our committee decided to send this issue to you … to look into it and restore the stolen money.
Stealing $30 trillion worth of oil would require 1.7 billion oil trucks, or 46,000 of these trucks every day for 100 years!
Fact #2 : US Spent $60 Billion To Reconstruct Iraq
There is no evidence that the unaccounted money was repatriated to the United States, or officially taken by the United States.
Even assuming that it was not poor accounting and all of the $8.7 billion was truly stolen, that is a far cry (0.029%) from the $30 trillion that was “allegedly” stolen.
It is also rendered ludicrous by the fact that the United States spent US$60 billion in the reconstruction of Iraq – almost 7X of what it allegedly stole.
Also consider the fact that Iraqi oil production only reached 4.4 million barrels per day in 2016. Assuming an average sale price of USD 60 per barrel, it would take them 311 years to sell enough oil to make $30 trillion.
Fact #3 : US Did Not Steal $20 Trillion Of Iraqi Gold
The United States also did not steal gold from Iraq, certainly not $20 trillion worth of gold!
All those photos of US soldiers with Iraqi gold bars are genuine, but they only show them taking photos with the gold they seized in Iraq.
The Iraqi gold bars (as well as currency and other valuables) that US soldiers seized were transported to the US Army’s headquarters in Kuwait.
There, they were examined by the Secret Service and/or the US Department of Treasury to determine their authenticity and value, before being returned to the Central Iraqi Treasury or the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI).
This is a picture of Lt. Col. Scott Schmidt, who was in charge of the 230th Finance Battalion. The battalion’s job was to seize Iraqi assets like currency, gold bars and other valuables.
Fact #4 : The Entire World Does Not Have So Much Gold!
In 2003, Iraq had under 6 tonnes of gold reserves, worth less than $70 million. So how can the United States possibly steal 20 trillion dollars worth of gold from Iraq? $20 trillion worth of gold would weigh at least 1,714,285 tonnes in 2003.
Guess how much gold mankind has ever mined in history? Only 208,874 tonnes as of February 2023 – which is just 12% of what people are claiming that the United States stole from Iraq.
As of January 2023, the value of all the gold in the world is only USD 13 trillion – less than 2/3 of what the conspiracy theory claims the United States stole from Iraq… and that’s only because gold prices have gone up tremendously since 2003.
Even with the much higher gold price, it would take an additional 90 years of mining gold before the entire world has $20 trillion worth of gold for the US government to steal.
Now that you know the truth, please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check out!
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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.
Do traffic lights in Malaysia now have CCTV cameras to catch drivers crossing the white line?!
Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Traffic Lights Have CCTV To Catch Drivers!
People are sharing a photo of a JPJ (Road Transport Department) traffic offence fine issued to a driver called Koh Chip Wee.
They claim that he was fined after a CCTV camera at the traffic light caught him stopping his vehicle over the white line. This example warns motorists that they could be fined RM2,000 or jailed for up to 6 months for this offence:
It’s a RM 2K fine or 6 months jail for waiting across the white line at traffic lights monitored by cameras, the notices hv already started going out by post… Cheers
Other people are sharing the photo with this audio message of a man warning people that traffic lights in Kuantan, Pahang, now have CCTV cameras that are designed to catch motorists who stop over the white line.
Truth : Traffic Lights Do Not Have CCTV To Catch Drivers!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : You Can Be Fined For Stopping Over White Line
First, let me just confirm that this part is true – motorists may be fined up to RM2,000, or jailed for up to 6 months, if they are caught stopping any part of their vehicles on any zebra crossing, including crossing that unbroken white line at any traffic light.
Mana-mana individu yang melakukan kesalahan boleh dikenakan denda tidak melebihi RM2,000 atau dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan.
Any individual who commits an offense may be fined not exceeding RM2,000 or imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months.
In other words – this is a serious offence, with serious consequences. You must stop your vehicle before the unbroken white line at all traffic lights.
Most of us motorists never think about this. So this is a timely warning. Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!
Fact #2 : Traffic Lights Currently Do Not Have CCTV Cameras
The traffic lights currently do not have any CCTV cameras installed to catch drivers crossing the white line, or committing any other traffic offences.
That device you see on many traffic lights these days is an active infra-red sensor. Such infra-red sensors are used to determine the presence of vehicles, for traffic control.
If the sensor does not detect the presence of a vehicle waiting, the traffic light for that lane may skip a turn to allow vehicles using other lanes to go through the junction for a longer period of time.
In the viral photo, the angle of the photo taken indicates that it was not taken by any camera attached to the traffic light. The photo was taken from behind the vehicle and even shows the traffic light itself.
Fact #3 : Driver Was Fined For Running A Red Light
The motorist in this case was not fined for stopping his vehicle over the white line at the traffic light.
If you look closely at the notice, you can see that he was actually fined for running a red light. In addition, he was only fined RM300 for the offence, not RM2,000.
Kesalahan : Gagal mematuhi isyarat merah pada isyarat lalulintas
Offence : Failed to obey red light at traffic light
Fact #4 : Only Known Traffic Light CCTV Camera Was A Test
The only known CCTV camera (with AI technology) that was installed for the purpose of catching traffic offences started operating in Miri on 4 July 2023.
This AI Violation Detection CCTV camera is designed to automatically monitor and record driver behaviour at the intersection, including:
collecting data on vehicle speed and details
automatically detecting and recording speeding vehicles
recording driver offences like using mobile phones, smoking, and not wearing seatbelts while driving
However, this CCTV camera with AI technology was installed as a proof-of-concept trial that will only last 6 months.
The trial period would be six months and the results will be presented to the ministry to decide on the next course of action.
It may be just a matter of time before such cameras are deployed in Malaysia, and other countries around the world. But right now, there really are no CCTV cameras installed at traffic lights to catch drivers committing traffic offences like stopping over the white line.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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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.
Please watch out for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones scam! Take a look at the scam, and find out what the facts really are!
Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!
Scammers are running Facebook ads that promote an awesome discount for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones! Here is one recent example:
😣”Frustrating” 😣I had to queue for 5 hours at IOI City Mall to buy MARSHALL MINOR III wireless headphones for only RM179 (original price RM596), I was surprised because I thought they only sold directly I heard it’s open for sale online in 2 more days https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms And also get the same discount as buying at the store. Free shipping nationwide.
But the 4 hours of queuing was worth it. As a Marshall fan, I was very excited when I heard the news that the Minor III series was coming out. And don’t waste your time waiting, the design is very beautiful, more stylish than the old version 💯 Great sound quality. Clear bus, fast Bluetooth connection, suitable for all types of devices, super battery life, 5 hours of continuous use and 25 hours with charging box, waterproof. The best thing about these headphones is the close-to-ear design. Comfortable, can play sports without worrying about falling. If you don’t buy it, you will be very disappointed.
I let my colleagues borrow it to play games because it sounded so realistic. There is no delay in movement. Many people ask me if the store still has promotions? I just saw information that the store has a discount in the next 2 days. Order quickly. At the end of the promotion, the price will return to the original price of RM596. I leave the purchase link here for those who want to buy: https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms
This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on Facebook, and here are there reasons why…
Fact #1 : Marshall Minor III Price Absurdly Low
The first thing about scams involving electronics, is that they often promise ridiculous great deals. If it’s too good to be true, it often is just a scam.
In this particular scam, scammers are offering the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones for just RM179 (US$39). That’s absurd, as the Marshall Minor II wireless earphones has an official retail price of $159 (approximately RM699)!
Marshall is a high-end audiophile brand, and its electronics are never cheap. Even if they offer a discount, it wouldn’t be anything like 70% to 75%. That’s just ridiculous.
For your safety, here are legit purchase options online for the Marshall Minor III earbuds :
Fact #4 : IOI City Mall Does Not Have A Marshall Outlet
The claim by these scammers that Alvinn Chong queued up for 5 hours at the IOI City Mall to buy the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones is easily debunked.
If you check the IOI City Mall tenant listing, you will quickly discover that it does not have a Marshall outlet.
Fact #5 : Queue Photos Are From Vietnam
The two photos which claim to show long queues for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones were not taken in Malaysia. They were actually taken in Vietnam.
This photo does not show people in IOI City Mall queueing up outside a Marshall outlet. It actually shows people queuing up for the opening of the 15th Pandora store at the Long Bien Aeon Mall, on 28 April 2022.
Incidentally, Pandora is a Danish jewellery brand, and does not sell Marshall audio products…
The second queue photo is also from Vietnam, but taken many years ago on 11 November 2017. It does not show people queuing up to buy any Marshall products either.
They were actually queuing up at Royal City Shopping Center in Hanoi, for the opening ceremony of the second H&M store in Vietnam.
Fact #6 : Scam Website Not Affiliated With ASH Asia
ASH Asia is an authorised distributor of Marshall products in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
However, the scam page (https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms) has nothing to do with ASH Asia, whose official Marshall Minor III page is https://ash-asia.com/ms.
On top of that, ASH Asia does not sell the Marshall Minor III directly (like the scam page). Instead, ASH Asia sells the wireless earphones through Shopee and Lazada.
In fact, if you check the main domain itself, you will get an error message, stating:
Your domain name has been successfully pointed!Please publish a Landing Page with the above domain name to use the service.Thank you!
This not only gives it away as a scam website, it also suggests that the scammers are operating out of Vietnam.
Fact #7 : Scam Website Admits Selling Fake Marshall Minor III
Ironically, the scam website itself has a disclaimer, warning potential buyers that it is not selling genuine Marshall Minor III wireless earphones, but a replica instead…
Most people won’t notice it because if you click to order, the website is designed to skip past this warning.
To assure you that this is safe, the scammers say that you only need to pay on delivery. Sounds good, doesn’t it? That guarantees that you will at least receive the item, doesn’t it?
Not quite, as one person who claimed to have purchased from this scam website explained…
I was attracted and clicked in, filling in my address and phone number.Three days later, I got a call saying that my package would arrive through DHL-COD, and asked me to make sure I was home.
I started looking forward to it, but when I thought about it, I became more suspicious.Since when does DHL provide Cash On Delivery service? I can’t believe they would dare to pay for first-class service without any payment from me.I figured it might be a scam!
What’s the scam? You may not have any doubts when you receive the package. When I open it immediately and take a look, then I realized it was full of garbage. [Unfortunately] I had already paid the delivery person, who ran away.
If true, the scam involves giving you an empty package filled with trash to receive your cash payment. After which, you have no recourse.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
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.
Watch out for the Bantuan Rakyat Malaysia scam on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and Twitter!
Find out how this scam works, and WARN your family and friends!
Bantuan Rakyat Malaysia 2023 Scam Alert!
These scam messages about Bantuan Tunai Rakyat (BTR) 2023, or Bantuan Percuma Kerajaan Malaysia 2023, is going viral on WhatsApp, Telegram, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
CARA SEMAKAN TARIKH BAGI PENERIMA BANTUAN RM600 DIKREDITKAN SETIAP BULAN
Untuk mereka yang layak, anda boleh lakukan semakan dengan mengikuti cara yang diterangkan.
Baca Cara Semakan Bantuan 👇 https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/
SHARE INFO ini kepada rakan-rakan dan saudara mara untuk manfaat semua
HOW TO CHECK THE DATE FOR RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE RM600 CREDIT EVERY MONTH
For those who are eligible, you can check by following the described method.
Read How to Check Help 👇 https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/
SHARE this INFO to friends and relatives for the benefit of all
As one lady shared in the video below, she got tricked by the scammers, who took over her Telegram account to send the same scam message to all of her contacts!
While she claimed that she did not click any link, I will show you how she got scammed…
Warning : To show you how the scammers work, I will share the links they use. I will highlight those dangerous links in red. Do NOT go to those links.
Super Long Link
To trick people into clicking on the scam links, the scammers intentionally use a misleading and very long URL, so you are less likely to notice the domain.
This is the scam link : https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/
Note how the scammer used a long list of descriptive keywords – “bantuan“, “rakyat“, “malaysia“, “lynk“, which helps to mislead people, and make it more difficult for them to notice that the domain is “eu.org“.
Obviously, eu.org is not a Malaysian government domain (which ends with .gov.my), and it has nothing to do with Malaysia or financial aid. This domain also has nothing to do with the European Union.
EU.org provides free subdomains, and so scammers use it to not only run their scams, but to give their scams a more “legitimate-looking domain”.
Pro Tip : Always check the domain of a link before you click on it. Avoid super-long links like this because they are often used to mask the domain name.
After clicking to go to https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/, you will be taken to what looks like an invitation to join a Telegram group. But in reality, it is a fake Telegram invitation.
A real Telegram invitation will have a link like this – https://t.me/XXXXXXXX. But this scam page has the link – https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/my.php.
Also, a real Telegram invitation can detect if you are using Windows / Mac or Android / iOS, and suggest that the right download for your device.
The invitation also has a glaring typo – the link says Massage Now, rather than Message Now. Hilarious!
In any case, a real Telegram invitation will not ask you to Message Now. Rather, it will allow you to either View In Telegram, or Preview channel in the web browser itself.
If you click on Join Group, you will be taken to this Telegram login page. Even though it offers you a list of countries to select from, the only option is Malaysia.
WARNING – THIS IS A SCAM PAGE. This is what is known in cybersecurity as a “phishing attack”.
First of all, Telegram invitations will never ask you to log into your Telegram account. It will simply launch the Telegram app and load the group for you.
Secondly, if you look at the link, it leads to the same scam domain, specifically https://bntuanrakyatmalaysia.lynk.eu.org/my.php.
Do NOT log into your Telegram account in this page.
If you log into your Telegram account using this phishing page, then the scammers will gain access to your Telegram account, and take it over for their own use.
They can then use your Telegram account to send the same scam message, or worse, cheat your family and friends of their money!
The lady in the viral video likely logged into this phishing page, thus giving the scammers control of her Telegram account. That was likely how they were able to message everyone on her contact list.
She also likely did not enable Two-Step Verification in Telegram, which would let her recover her account even after scammers have gained access.
That is why people who were hit by this scam had to call and inform their relatives and friends, or publicly post about it to warn all of their contacts.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to warn all of their contacts, and inevitably, someone will get cheated of their hard-earned money. That’s why these scams are so popular – they really work, and scammers are making a ton of money!
Help us fight against these scammers. SHARE this article out, and WARN your family and friends!
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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.
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!
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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.
Did a Chinese driver get attacked with an axe after he honked at a Malay driver in front of him?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Chinese Driver Attacked With Axe After Honking!
People are now sharing four videos together with this viral message about a Chinese driver getting attacked with an axe after he honked at a Malay driver in front of him!
Forwarded by another chat group. The Chinese driver at the back horn the malay guy in front. Maybe the malay driver in bad mood took an axe and chopped him.
Be patience on the road and do not horn unnecessary.
I will not be posting the videos, because they are shocking in nature. However, these two screenshots should give you an idea of the violence, and the videos I’m referring to.
Truth : No Chinese Driver Was Hacked With Axe For Honking!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Incident Occurred In Sabah
Let me start by pointing out that the viral videos are genuine, and were not edited. There was a recent incident where a man was hacked with an axe in Malaysia.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night, 9 August 2023, in Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Fact #2 : The Man Did Not Honk At Anyone
The incident did not involve honking. The victim – a 37 year-old man, had earlier parked his car at an open space near Menara Kinabalu – the Sabah state administrative centre.
He was having a meal with his 30 year-old girlfriend in his parked car, when three men approached his car at around 9 PM. One of the three man then proceeded to attack the victim with an axe.
The couple managed to escape to the nearby Alamesra police station to seek help, and lodge a police report. The victim was later sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. His girlfriend was not injured.
Fact #3 : Police Are Looking For The Three Men
The police are now looking for the three man to help with their investigation into the case – 37 year-old Withal Jalali, 27 year-old Abdel Jalali, and another man who has not been identified.
Those with information of the individuals or the incident are advised to come forward and report the matter at the nearest police station or contact the investigating officer Inspector Muhammad Khaidir Zakaria at 014-801-961.
The man who attacked the victim with an axe is believed to be Winhal Jalali – the woman’s ex-husband.
The woman is believed to have married the suspect in 2015, before they divorced about a month ago. She has known the victim for six months before starting a romantic relationship two weeks ago.
Kota Kinabalu Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah confirmed the incident on Friday, 11 August 2023, stating:
The man suffered multiple injuries to his face, hands and foot following the attack. We believe the motive of the attack was jealousy.
The case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon.
Fact #5 : Victim’s Identity Is Still Unknown
The victim’s identity is currently unknown. The police have not revealed his name, much less his race. Therefore, there is no evidence that he is a Chinese man.
Until and unless the victim and/or the police reveals his identity and race, anyone who tells you that he is a Chinese man is likely telling a tall tale.
Fact #6 : Two Suspects Are Suluk
According to the Kota Kinabalu police, the two suspects who have been identified – Winhal Jalali and Abdel Jalali, are from the Suluk ethnic group.
In other words – the claim in the viral warning that the driver was attacked by a “moody Malay man” is categorically false.
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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.
Please watch out for the Media Prima Digital / Nielsen fake job scam! Don’t forget to warn your family and friends!
Media Prima / Nielsen Job Scam : How They Reel You In…
Scammers are targeting people through WhatsApp, offering an easy way to make extra money through a part-time job you can do online.
I am Shirley , a permanent employee at Media Prima Digital Company in the recruitment department. The HR department sent me this number and asked me to contact you to get you to a job opportunity.
I just want to share some work-from-home freelance job information offer .You don’t have to spend a lot of time on the job.I can explain if you are interested
The job appears to be very simple – just use your Instagram account to follow Media Prima Digital’s brand partners, to boost their follower count and exposure.
Our job is to use Instagram to follow our various partner brands and work with Malaysian brand influencers to increase their exposure. We hire freelancers to work with the hope of earning extra income every day.
You don’t have to do any marketing for the brand, you just have to subscribe Brand. The salary will be paid daily using TnG or Bank transfer.
Best of all, the scammers are promising that you can make easy money doing nothing more than help Media Prima Digital boost their brand partners on Instagram…
This job is like freelancing. You can do it from anywhere and anytime if you can use social media. RM 110-550 per day if you can do it energetically without even a little worry. You can earn up to RM 3,300-16,500 per month.
Wow! That’s more than what many people earn in Malaysia, so why the heck not, right? Just use Instagram to help big brands “cheat” on their follower counts. Unethical, but not illegal, right? And easy money to make.
The scammer will let you try one or two tasks to show you just how easy it is to make quick money. Wow – you can earn RM10 just by following one Instagram account? Easy!
To get paid, the scammer hands you over to the actual fake job syndicate on Telegram…
Why Telegram? Telegram is popular with scammers because it not only offers end-to-end encryption, it won’t expose their actual telephone numbers.
Go to telegram and add to our receptionist. Use this username @AD or you can easily add her using this Link. https://t.me/KL999654
After successfully adding her send her a message. (I’m a new member.) code: JZ 450032 (ML-OS)Please send me a screenshot to confirm after sending code message to her.
She will invite you to join our working group where you can accomplish many tasks and earn more salary.
This “receptionist” will quickly pay you the RM10 (the bait), to “prove” that this is a genuine operation. She will then explain what you need to do to earn RM200 to RM300 a day. That’s more than what most people make in a day!
The finance department is sending money to you, please inform me when you receive it! Now let me give you a detailed description of our part-time work
The main job is to help Instagram users follow their page. You get RM2 for completing one task. RM80+ commission per day depending on your hours. The daily income is between RM 200 and RM 300, as long as you have enough time to do it, you can join
You will get RM2-RM18 commission for completing the task and an additional RM80 salary, which will be calculated based on your working hours today, ending at 8pm
Complete a task for RM2, accumulate RM10 and you can automatically receive commission. The more tasks you do, the more commissions you earn and the higher your salary
Update the task every 20 minutes and send me screenshots when you’re done so I know how much you’ve accomplished. The timeout task has expired and does not need to be completed. Do the latest task in the group
Only RM2 per task? But okay, they are also offering a daily commission. You work it out, and decide – what the heck, you can still get a decent sum every day. So you agree to participate.
After you chug along, accumulating a small but nice sum over several hours, they hit you with the scam… you have to invest your money for the next job.
Subscribe to Tasks: In order to thank you for your support to our company we hereby announce the welfare task and strive for the quota for everyone Subscription Rule (2-4 orders) This task is based on market demand, we are recruiting customers to transfer subscription to increase transaction flow. Increase market turnover. 5 to 10 minutes to complete the task, such as subscribe RM100, get RM130, 30% profit. =========================== MYR 100 Cash back MYR 130 (Newbie subscription) MYR 200 Cash back MYR 260 MYR 300 Cash back MYR 390 MYR 600 Cash back MYR 780 MYR 1000 Cashback MYR 1300
This is when your receptionist will pressure you into at least taking the “newbie subscription” of “just RM100”. She will assure you that you will instantly get RM30 profit.
In the meantime, people in the Telegram group will publicly announce that they are buying subscriptions of RM300, RM600, etc. These are likely just accounts run by the scammers.
If you hesitate, the receptionist will tell you that you cannot proceed without subscribing to this task. If you refuse, you will also lose the money you earned earlier. This is how they trap you.
If you jump right into it, the group will likely pay you the first time, to tempt you into investing more the next time around. That’s when they take your money for good.
Don’t think that you can’t really lose much on such fake job scams. One university student recently explained how he lost over RM22,000 in a similar job scam.
There’s one trick that this scammer is using. He let me start with a small investment, then proceed with stages. They force me to continue because I want to rescue the money that I put in in the previous task. So it keeps getting bigger and bigger.
So please AVOID such online job offers, and help us fight these scammers – SHARE this article out, and WARN your family and friends!
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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.
The Inspector-General of Police just announced that PDRM will conduct roadblocks at strategic locations, from midnight onwards!
IGP : PDRM To Conduct Roadblocks From Midnight Onwards!
On Saturday, 12 August 2023, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain announced that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will conduct roadblocks at strategic locations nationwide, from midnight onwards!
He said that these roadblocks are part of ongoing efforts to prevent crime and ensure public safety through police omnipresence, and unrelated to the 2023 state elections.
This is part of our monthly routine to prevent crimes and is not related to the state elections. Our men will be stationed at various locations to ensure there are no untoward incidents.
At the same time, IGP Razarudin also urged supporters of political parties not to hold any victory convoys with their vehicles.
He also said that the police will increase its presence at state palaces and residences of the Yang di-Pertua to prevent disruptions at those locations.
PDRM conducted similar roadblocks were during the 15th General Elections in November 2022.
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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.
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!
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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.
Did Germany just publicly accuse the US of blowing up Nord Stream 2 at the United Nations?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-08-05 : Updated with a new YouTube channel. Originally posted @ 2023-05-01
Claim : Germany Accuses US Of Blowing Up Nord Stream 2!
People are sharing a YouTube video which shows the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, publicly accusing the US of blowing up Nord Stream 2 at the United Nations!
Fierce and powerful recent speech of German Chancellor on Americans blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline, the aggressive using of Ukraine to start a war against Russia . ‘ We are the baddies’
BREAKING NEWS!!! Germany Accuses US Of Blowing Up Nord Stream 2. Bravo – finally 👍👏
How To Be A Hypocrite Show How The Actions Of The West Divides The World Instead Of Bring It Together
Truth : Germany Did Not Accuse US Of Blowing Up Nord Stream 2!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by pro-Russia activists, and promoted / shared by pro-Russian vatniks, the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Olaf Scholz Was Denouncing Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
I traced the video to a speech German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave at the United Nations General Assembly’s 77th session on 20 September 2022
In the original, unedited video, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not accuse the US of blowing up the Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Instead, he denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
There is no justification whatsoever for Russia’s war of occupation against Ukraine. President Putin is waging this war with one single objective: to seize Ukraine. Self-determination, political independence do not count for him.
And there’s only one word for this – this is imperialism, plain and simple. The return of imperialism is not only a disaster for Europe, but also a disaster for our global peaceful order.
If we want this war to end, then we cannot be indifferent to how it ends. Putin will only give up his war and his imperialist ambitions if he realizes that he cannot wi.
This is why we will not accept a peace dictated by Russia. This is why we will not accept any pretentious referenda. And this is why Ukraine must be able to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Fact #2 : It Features A Fake “Satire” Voice-Over
The video is real, but the original audio was replaced by a fake male “satire” voice-over. The original, unedited video features a female interpreter, which you can view below.
The fake video creator actually mentioned this in the video’s title, but intentionally made the extra long to reduce visibility of that disclaimer. The fake news creator also mentioned the use of a fake voice-over in the description:
BREAKING NEWS!!! Germany Accuses US Of Blowing Up Nord Stream 2. (Satire Interpreter Voice)
How To Be A Hypocrite Show How The Actions Of The West Divides The World Instead Of Bring It Together. Satire Interpreter Voice To Show What The Rest Of The World World Prefer.
This goes to show just how many people don’t bother to even read the title. Of course, when it comes to pro-Russia and pro-CCP netizens, who cares? If it is anti-America, it must be true.
Fact #3 : It Was Posted By A New “Parody” YouTube Account
The viral video was posted by a new YouTube account created on March 15, 2023.
So far, this YouTube channel – AlienJacket, posted six anti-Western videos – five of which are fake “parody” videos.
The only non-parody video is of Zambian politician Fred M’membe criticising the United States at China’s recent “democracy forum” – the the Second International Forum on Democracy.
Despite being reported as misinformation, YouTube allowed the video to chalk up over 103,000 views over 3 months… and counting.
Fact #4 : It Was Reposted By MVO Channel
Perhaps impressed by how many views the fake video that AlienJacket created drew, a new YouTube channel called MVO Channel reposted the video in May 2023.
Again, YouTube left the video untouched, despite being reported as misinformation…
Fact #5 : Unknown Who Destroyed Nord Stream 2 Pipelines
It is currently unknown who destroyed the Nord Stream 2 pipelines. As far as plausible reasons go, many countries had plausible reasons to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines:
US : To prevent allies in Europe from being held hostage by their reliance on cheap Russian gas.
UK : To encourage allies in Europe to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Russia : To stop supplying Europe without breaking its gas supply contracts, and/or to divide Europe.
Ukraine : To unite Europe against Russia.
While motive is important, it is not evidence that a country has committed the crime. There has to be actual evidence that the US / UK / Russia / Ukraine did it.
Regardless of what armchair experts may claim, there is simply no conclusive evidence YET that any of those countries are responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
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.
PDRM is warning motorists not to stop their vehicles on any zebra crossing, or be subject to a fine of up to RM2,000, or 6 month’s jail!
PDRM Warning : It’s Illegal To Stop On Zebra Crossing!
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is warning motorists not to stop their vehicles on any zebra crossing, or be subject to a fine of up to RM2,000, or 6 month’s jail!
On 28 July 2023, PDRM’s Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department (JSPT) announced that it would initiate a nationwide operation to enforce traffic laws under Op Pematuhan Peraturan Lala Lintas (Traffic Regulations Enforcement Operation).
One of the operations it is now carrying out is to enforce Rule 38 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, which prohibits motorists from stopping their vehicles on any zebra crossing, unless it is out of their control – they are blocked by other vehicles from moving out of the way, or if it is necessary to prevent an accident.
OP PEMATUHAN PERATURAN LALU LINTAS
Jabatan Siasatan Dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik (JSPT) Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) pada 28 Julai 2023 telah mengeluarkan satu kenyataan media berhubung pelaksanaan OP Pematuhan Peraturan Lalu di seluruh negara.
Salah satu daripada operasi yang dijalankan adalah Kaedah 38 Kaedah-Kaedah Lalu Lintas Jalan (LN166/1959) – Tidak Boleh Memberhentikan Kenderaan Di Lintasan, menyatakan bahawa ;
– Pemandu kenderaan tidak boleh menyebabkan kenderaan atau mana-mana bahagian kenderaannya berhenti di dalam kawasan lintasan melainkan sama ada dia dilarang daripada bergerak oleh keadaan yang diluar kawalannya atau jika perlu baginya untuk berhenti bagi mengelakkan kemalangan.
Here is the English translation:
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT OPERATION
The Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) on 28 July 2023 issued a media statement regarding the launch of the Traffic Regulations Enforcement Operation throughout the country.
One of the operations carried out is Rule 38 of the Road Traffic Rules (LN166/1959) – Not Allowed To Stop Vehicles At Crossings, which state that;
– The driver must not cause the vehicle or any part of the vehicle to stop in the crossing area unless he is prohibited from moving by circumstances beyond his control or if it is necessary for him to stop to avoid an accident.
To be clear – all motorists – whether they are driving a car, a van, or riding a motorcycle, should not cross the white line. If any part of their vehicle crosses the white line, that constitutes an offence.
Pengguna jalan raya diingatkan untuk mematuhi peraturan lalulintas dan tidak berhenti melebihi garisan putih kerana perbuatan ini adalah salah satu punca berlakunya kesesakan lalu lintas, berlakunya kemalangan dan juga boleh mengganggu pengguna jalanraya yang lain.
Road users are reminded to obey traffic rules and not stop beyond the white line because this act is one of the causes of traffic jams, accidents and can also disturb other road users.
Fine / Jail If Caught Stopping On Zebra Crossing!
JSPT is also warning that motorists may be fined up to RM2,000, or jailed for up to 6 months, if they are caught stopping any part of their vehicles on any zebra crossing.
Mana-mana individu yang melakukan kesalahan boleh dikenakan denda tidak melebihi RM2,000 atau dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan.
Any individual who commits an offense may be fined not exceeding RM2,000 or imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months.
In other words – this is a serious offence, with serious consequences. Most of us motorists never think about this. So this is a timely warning. 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.
