by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 20: A 71-year-old man has lost RM800,000 after being duped into investing in a non-existent online cosmetic business scheme.
Kuching District Police Chief ACP Alexson Naga Anak Chabu said the victim first received a phone call in 2021 from an unknown woman offering an opportunity to invest in a cosmetics business. Enticed by the promise of lucrative returns, the man proceeded to make a series of payments into a company bank account.
“The victim then made payments into a company bank account in stages involving eight online transfer transactions and through cheque payments. He became suspicious when he failed to receive the investment profits as promised to him,” Alexson said in a press statement.
Realising he had been deceived, the victim eventually reported the matter, revealing a total loss amounting to RM800,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which is deceiving and dishonestly inducing the surrender of property, which carries a prison sentence of not less than one year and not more than ten years, and whipping, and may also be fined if convicted.
According to Alexson, the total number of cases investigated by the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Kuching District Police Headquarters from January 1 to November 20, 2025 involving the same modus operandi is 104 cases involving losses of RM24,271,756.38.
He advised the public to exercise extreme caution when presented with investment opportunities, especially those promoted through social media. He also urged individuals to verify the legitimacy of companies through official channels such as Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission.
Victims who have recently transferred money to suspected scammers are urged to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997.
Police also encouraged the public to use tools such as the Semak Mule portal, the Investment Checker platform, and applications like Whoscall and Check Scammers CCID to verify suspicious phone numbers, bank accounts, and investment offers. – DayakDaily
