The Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) has issued a public warning about the dangers of silent phone calls from unknown numbers, cautioning that even responding with “Hello? Hello?” for a few seconds could expose individuals to scam attempts.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, JSJK explained that silent calls are often made deliberately by scammers to record victims’ voices. These calls are not random or harmless interruptions, but a tactic used to identify potential targets and confirm that a phone number is active.
According to JSJK, scammers may only need three to five seconds of recorded audio to capture a victim’s voice. The recording can later be misused to impersonate the victim when contacting their friends or family members, often to request monetary assistance or loans.
An officer featured in a video shared by JSJK further explained that scammers rely on victims responding first during silent calls. When individuals instinctively say “Hello?” multiple times, their voices can be recorded without their knowledge.
The police emphasised that silent calls should be treated as warning signs rather than minor annoyances, urging the public to remain cautious and avoid engaging with unknown callers.
To reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams, JSJK advised the public to:
- Avoid answering calls from unknown numbers immediately
- Verify the caller’s identity through WhatsApp or text messages before responding
- Only speak when the caller initiates the conversation
Watch the full video below :
JSJK encouraged the public to stay alert and informed, reminding everyone that heightened awareness is key to preventing scams. Members of the public are also advised to share this information with family and friends, particularly the elderly, to help protect them from falling victim to such deceptive tactics.
Source / Image Credit : The Rakyat Post , The Star
