A discussion took place between MCPF Penang & PWDC on SCAM Awareness QR Code Joint Efforts on Tuesday 20th May 2025 11:00 am to 12:00 noon at the PWDC Office Conference Room.

Attendees included from PWDC: 1. YBhg. Dato’ Ong Bee Leng, CEO; 2. Ms S. Mangleswary, Head, Women’s Empowerment & Leadership / also, MCPF Penang SLC Member ex-officio [PWDC]). From MCPF Penang: 1. YBhg. Dato’ Seri Ong Poh Eng, Chairman; 2. Mr. JM Tan, Secretary; 3. Mr. Joseph Sawaremuthu, SLC Member. Quick Wrap up Summary: 1. Dato’ Ong Bee Leng welcomed and thanked the MCPF Penang team for meeting up with PWDC. 2. Dato’ Seri Ong Poh Eng explained the purpose of the dialogue session and shared grave concerns on rising scams afflicting the public. 3. Dato’ Ong Bee Leng stated PWDC’s similar concern on the impact scams has and underlined the importance of getting more data driven trends of how scams are happening and which strata of the society it is hitting the hardest. She also outlined that awareness need to reach out to the Chinese / Tamil speaking groups and added that retirees were a major target group. 4. JM Tan explained further on how the Scam Awareness QR Code (Mini-App Infographics) had been designed / developed between RMP Penang / MCPF Penang. He also shared the availability of a short PowerPoint overview in the use of the QR Code. 5. Ms Mangleswary shared the challenges involved in reaching out to the less Digital savvy public to effectively use the QR Code. 6. The main thrust of the Poster is to enhance awareness to the public and to understanding preventative measures. 7. Dato’ Ong Bee Leng viewed that getting MBPP appointed Councilors on board was essential. 8. JM Tan requested Mangleswary to share the list of PWDC’s partners that could help perpetuate the dangers of Scams. 9. Essentially all present agreed that the simple PowerPoint overview already published would be most helpful to gain more traction in getting the message across the use of the Scam Awareness QR Code. 10. Dato’ Ong Bee Leng mentioned that she would approach the Komtar management to place the QR Code Posters at strategic locations within Komtar. 11. The attendees present agreed a few key rules to avoid being scammed and summed up THREE vital tips: 11.1 Trust No One. If we don’t know the caller – don’t answer the phone. 11.2 If the deal is “Too Good to be TRUE”, then it is definitely too good be true and more than likely a Scam. 11.3 Be fully aware that scams are ever evolving. New scams will pop up. And, the use of A.I. would get more threatening. 12. The meeting ended with the commitment that PSDC will work together with MCPF Penang on the list of NGOs within PSDC’s NGO partners.