New law to prevent Internet business frauds
|
Back to index |
|
IPOH:
The Electronic Transaction Act to be tabled in parliament in October is
part of the government's effort to prevent e-commerce frauds. There
were no laws to control ecommerce in Malaysia at present, said Domestic
Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's Domestic Trade Division Principal
Assistant Director Mohamed Azni Mohamed Ali. Due
to this, many people who joined the business thinking they could make
quick profits were cheated, he said. "Many
of those who operate these businesses are foreign companies. They
have their own websites and such schemes will attract many people as it is
worldwide," he told reporters after the launch of the direct selling
and get-rich-quick scheme information session. It
was launched by the Perak Unity and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman
Datuk G. Rajoo here yesterday. The
biggest case exposed in Malaysia was the Skybiz where 65,000 people were
involved and each had to pay RM380. "However,
the government had announced that the business is a pyramid scheme and
America, where it originated, took action in March last year," he
said. He
said since there were no laws the government was not responsible for those
involved. "Whatever
happens they are responsible for themselves. Even the international laws
are not applicable to Internet businesses. However, there are some
countries that have created such laws. In Asia, we may be the first,"
said Mohamed Azni. He
advised the public to be careful as people can be easily duped and become
the victim. - Bernama |
|