While public education campaigns in Terengganu aim to reduce the RM21 million lost in love scams and fake investments, critics caution that awareness alone is insufficient. Without stronger law enforcement and legal consequences for scammers, many victims remain vulnerable despite knowing the risks.
Scammers often operate across borders or behind anonymizing technology, slipping past local enforcement. This limited enforcement capacity can undermine public confidence and enable persistent fraudulent activities.
Additionally, some argue that focusing mainly on victim education shifts responsibility away from systemic regulatory gaps and financial platforms that enable these scams to flourish. More robust legal frameworks and international cooperation are necessary to pursue perpetrators effectively.
Without these measures, educational efforts risk being a superficial fix. A comprehensive strategy combining stringent policing, regulatory oversight, and public awareness is essential to meaningfully reduce the impact of such scams on Terengganu’s residents.