SOMETIMES you have to take the email warnings in your inbox with a pinch of salt, says Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin.
Many are outlandish lies.
"Take the one on two-way mirrors (which are allegedly fixed in women's toilets to spy on them). Where are the victims?"
Mohd Bakri says it is up to the public to lodge a police report and "we will definitely charge those who are responsible".
His beef is "when we investigate, it involves public money. If these claims are not true, the public must understand that they can also be charged with lodging a false report".
Mohd Bakri adds that anyone can claim anything but it must be backed up.
"We cannot stop people from sending emails. It is their right but we are doing our job to ensure the security of the country is preserved. My advice is to be selective. If the advice appears to be good, then take it. If not, ignore it."
On the email warning about giving duit kopi or bribes to traffic policemen, Mohd Bakri says: "We give out letters of commendation to anyone who does a good job and the police force is one place where we have many good people working.
"I admit there are a few black sheep among the lot. When we reward someone, it is a department's right.
"That is why we wear the anti-rasuah badge so that the public should refrain from bribing the police officers. If they are really concerned, the public should come forward and lodge a police report."
Federal traffic police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Datuk Hamza Taib says there is no monetary reward for policemen who report attempts to bribe them.
"But before my tenure, I heard that there were commendation letters and sometimes cash rewards presented to honest officers.
These letters help in career advancement," he adds.
"The email on the duit kopi is not true. We did not issue the email and we do not give out RM100 to each officer who reports bribery.
We operate on public funds, so from where are we going to get the money?"
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye says the contents of emails have to be assessed thoroughly.
"If it is ridiculous, then ignore it.
The public should put on their thinking caps.
"Ninety per cent of the time the emails are not true but we cannot ignore the small percentage which may turn out to be true."
Examples of the clutter in your inbox
'BODY-PART' SNATCHERS
Dear All,
This is pretty scary, in connection with the case on Ms Canny Ong who was raped and killed.
A friend stopped at a pay-at-the-pump petrol station. Once she filled her tank after paying at the pump and about to leave, the attendant inside came over the speaker.
He told her that something was wrong with her card and that she needed to come inside. The woman was confused because the transaction was completed and approved. She told him she was leaving but the attendant was insistent.
She went in and started arguing with the attendant. He told her to calm down.
He told her that while she was pumping petrol, a guy slipped into the back seat of her car on the other side and he (the attendant) had called the police. She became scared and looked out in time to see the car door open and a guy slip out.
This is a new gang initiation thing to bring back a woman's body part.
One way they are doing this is by crawling under girls/women's cars while they're pumping petrol or at grocery stores at night. Then, they will cut of the legs ankles to disable them in order to kidnap them, kill and dismember them.
The other way is slipping into unattended cars and kidnapping the women to kill and dismember them. Please pass this on to other women, young and old alike. Be extra careful going to and from your car at night. If at all possible, don't go alone! This is real!!
WARNING ON 'DUIT KOPI'
Dear Friends,
If you are used to paying "duit kopi" (coffee money, meaning bribe) when stopped for traffic offences, DON'T Do This Again.
The Traffic Department has started a campaign to rid itself of corruption. The officers on duty will be rewarded RM100 when they report each case to the department. This is how they do (trick you into) it. They will note down the details of your IC/MyKad, and ask you how you want to settle. They will then report the incident by passing up the kopi money and get the RM100 in return for their good deed. You will end up with a summons.
DON'T PAY KOPI RM AGAIN, especially if you hope to go free with RM20 kopi money. They rather have a good name than to take your kopi money.
Just beware of their trick because the cops are now clocking up "cookie" points for their promotion and pay increment.
They should have done this to stop corruption a long time ago, anyway better late than never...
SPREAD THIS MESSAGE AROUND TO :EDUCATE OTHERS ON THIS
2-WAY MIRRORS
HOW TO DETECT A 2-WAY MIRROR: When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc.
How many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror on the wall is a real mirror, or a 2-way mirror (i.e., they can see you, but you can't see them)?
There have been many cases of people installing 2-way mirrors in female changing rooms.
It is difficult to positively identify the surface by just looking at it.
So, how do we determine with any certainty what type of mirror we are looking at?
Just conduct this simple test:
Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there is a GAP between your fingernail and the image of the fingernail, then it is a GENUINE mirror.
However, if your fingernail DIRECTLY TOUCHES the image of your nail, then BEWARE, FOR IT IS A 2-WAY MIRROR!
So remember, every time you see a mirror, do the "fingernail test".
It doesn't cost you anything. It is simple to do, and it might save you from getting "visually raped!"
The reason there is a gap on a real mirror, is because the silver is on the back of the mirror UNDER the glass. As a two-way mirror, the silver is on the surface.
PASS THIS ON FOR SAFETY
What they say:
I received an email that says if you bribe a police officer, he or she will report you to get RM100 reward for honesty. I laughed after reading the email because deep down inside I know this email is not true. - Sakinah Abdullah, 53, businesswoman from Ipoh
I do spend many hours driving about to do chores. Who would suspect people driving luxury cars to be carjackers? Being a new mother, I have concerns about my children's safety, as I drive with them in the car. Although I do not entirely believe everything written in emails, I do feel that people need to be careful out there. - Norizan Sanusi, 31, housewife who received an email about a syndicate preying on single women drivers
I do a bit of night driving, but so far have not experienced anything dangerous. Every time I receive these emails, I just trash them. Some claims can be outrageous. - P. Jayanthi, 25, accounts executive who received an email about robbers who throw eggs on car windscreens
I have received so many of these emails, most of them directed at women. However, I feel everyone is vulnerable. I have not met anyone who has experienced first-hand the kind of things in the emails, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Some of this email advice can help you stay out of trouble. - Prashanth Seenevasan, 32, marketing executive who received emails about two-way mirrors
