KUCHING: Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, warns women to be alert to the rising challenges brought about by technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and online fraud scams.
Referring to the increasing frequency of fraudulent online scams, Nancy said that many women entrepreneurs are now exposed to scammers who are cunning at deceiving people.
“Therefore, we must educate and increase our knowledge on digital awareness, so that we are not only tech-savvy but also wise in assessing risks.
“I can see that it’s very common now that many women who became victims of online scams often come to us asking for help, some of them even lose millions of their savings.
“Therefore, we must be courageous and wise in judging risks as not all investments could bring profit, but with adequate knowledge and the right network, it can lead to long-term success,” she said.
Nancy said this when met with reporters after officiating the Santubong Women Empowerment programme at Jamilah Hall, Yayasan Sarawak, here today.
She warned that if there is lack of awareness on this matter, online scams could become a norm.
“If we don’t raise awareness, especially during programmes like this for women, and fail to seize the opportunity, many will fall into these traps,” she added.
In the near future, Nancy said her ministry will organise effective empowerment programmes where experts and speakers will be invited to share insights on digital awareness, online scams, and other related topics.
“As part of our ongoing digital and AI talks, we will also need legal experts to clarify the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guide individuals on what actions to take.
“If we don’t raise this awareness, we will only continue to complain without knowing what to do. It’s essential, especially for women, to understand how to protect themselves,” she said.
