By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 26: A 40-year-old local man working in the private sector suffered losses amounting to RM238,000 after falling victim to a non-existent online investment scam in Miri.
Miri District Police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said the Commercial Crime Investigation Division (BSJKD) of Miri police received a report on Dec 25 regarding the case, which involved an online investment scheme promising lucrative returns.
According to him, the victim was duped into believing he was investing in China-based shares that turned out to be fictitious.
“The suspect initially provided the victim with small ‘returns’ as a tactic to gain his trust and encourage further investments,” he said in a statement.
Farhan added that the victim proceeded to make 10 transactions into two third-party bank accounts provided by the suspect, amounting to a total loss of RM238,000.
“The victim only realised he had been cheated when he was unable to withdraw the supposed profits from the investment,” he said.
Investigations are being conducted under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Farhan advised the public to remain vigilant against online investment offers, especially those circulated on social media platforms that promise quick and high returns.
He urged the public to understand the fundamentals of investment and to verify the legitimacy of any investment scheme with relevant authorities before committing any funds.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of cyber scams are encouraged to contact the National Scam Response Center (NSRC) at 997 immediately, especially if they have just made a fund transfer.
He also recommended checking suspicious phone numbers and bank accounts via the CCID Scam Check or the Semak Mule portal http://semakmule.rmp.gov.muy and downloading applications such as Whoscall to help identify potential scam numbers.
The public can also follow the Royal Malaysia Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s social media pages for the latest updates on scam modus operandi. – DayakDaily
