Kuala Lampur, Aug. 7 -- AUG 7 - For months, I had been receiving calls from several unknown numbers which I then ignored.

The phone would ring every so often, followed by a message on WhatsApp demanding payment for an outstanding mobile phone bill.

I have not been a Maxis user since 2012, so I naturally assumed it was a scam call.

After all, Malaysians are constantly reminded to be wary of unsolicited calls, particularly those demanding money.

But one day, out of annoyance, I called the number that was in one of those WhatsApp messages.

Everything about the conversation reinforced my suspicion, especially when the caller refused to reveal the phone number or any other information linked to the alleged account.

When I insisted on the...