I wish to refer to the recent news regarding the 'Scratch-And-Win' scams and the various direct selling gimmicks that are growing in our country.

I think the relevant authorities and particularly the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry should carry out more serious investigations in collaboration with the Registrar of Companies into all such schemes as these are very often merely pure pyramid scams that are out to cheat the rakyat of their money, time and effort.

It is also worrying to know that there are many such scams operating especially over the Internet. I also agree with the authorities that many of these scams are basically pyramid marketing in nature and are difficult to check on. The citizens must learn from past mistakes and not be sucked in by such 'get-rich-quick' promises.

But what is certainly worrying even more is that there are some pyramid scams that are disguised as direct selling fronts. They are licensed to sell all kinds of things from health-related products to vitamins and jewellery.

One such business is the sale of gold coins. The company headquartered in Hong Kong and with a registered presence in British Virgin Islands, has been promoting their business in Malaysia and in many other countries. Not very long ago they ran into problems with the government authorities in Sri Lanka. They also have problems in other parts including Indonesia.

The sad thing is that this very company is said to be operating from a building in Petaling Jaya. And its leader was also involved in and arrested and detained in Indonesia very recently. He was also posted by Interpol and our local media had featured the story too.

This particular business which now goes by the name of Quest Net and Qi Services (and formerly also known as Gold Quest) has been operating shamelessly too in Petaling Jaya for years. And they are conducting all kinds of recruitment exercises under the disguise of 'conventions', which sees hundreds of people attending from all over the world.

An Internet search for 'quest net' or 'gold quest' or 'gold coins' or 'pyramid scams' will reveal the extent of their operations and the volume of news published in various countries indicating how governments are banning their operations..

I wonder how many Malaysians are or would continue to be duped by such companies that are really pyramid scams and nothing more. Surely the authorities should not wait for people to lodge complaints before any action can be made.

The government should go all out investigate and fog out such scams that will gain momentum especially in economically trying times. Otherwise the country will continue to lose much of currency drain as the payments made on the Internet are often in US dollars.

Perhaps the media should consolidate their efforts to do an investigative journalism and expose the extent of operations by such companies like Quest Net. Leading authorities should also be roped in to help establish the sheep from the foxes for the benefit of the rakyat and the nation's foreign exchange health.