COMMENT | If someone introduces himself as a Datuk, Datuk Seri and Tan Sri, the instinct is often to trust. In Malaysia, titles still carry weight. They signal success, credibility and social standing. Yet a recent case reminds us that prestige can also be a carefully constructed mask.

The MACC has detained a businessperson in his 60s bearing the title Tan Sri, suspected of masterminding a large-scale investment fraud involving losses estimated at more than RM300 million.

A woman in her 50s, believed to be a director of a related company, was also arrested. The scheme is said to have operated for nearly two years and involved investors from both within and outside the country.

At first glance, the operation...