Kuala Lampur, Aug. 14 -- Here's an intriguing thought. Is it possible that in an era when financial-digital scams have become so ubiquitous and all-encompassing, one consequence is that many other social problems or vices may decline?

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's do a quick rewind.

Everybody knows that online scams and financial frauds are rising faster and faster.

Last week's news in which a doctor lost more than RM8 million was only the latest in what is practically just another day in the land of cyber-fraud.

The losses since 2019 have totalled billions. Eg, the State of Scam Report 2024 revealed that Malaysia lost RM54.02 billion (US$12.8 billion) to scams in 2023, equivalent to three per cent of our GDP.

No two days go...