Online Scams That Start With a Friendly “Hi” Message In Malaysia today, the most dangerous word on your phone might not be “urgent,” “bank alert,” or even “investment opportunity.” It might simply be: “Hi.” Yes, that innocent little greeting — the same one your aunt uses on WhatsApp before asking about your life — has quietly become the opening line of countless online scams. The script is embarrassingly simple. A message arrives from an unknown number. “Hi.” “Hello.” “Are you free to chat?” That’s it. No complicated tricks. No dramatic stories. Just a friendly digital tap on the shoulder. And somehow, many people still reply. What follows is a slow-motion scam carefully disguised as casual conversation. The stranger might pretend they saved the wrong number. Maybe they claim they were trying to contact someone else. Sometimes they act apologetic, polite, even charming. “Oh sorry, I must have the wrong number.” “Since we’re already chatting, maybe we can be frien...