By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 28: A local man in his 50s from Miri has lost around RM900,000 to a non-existent online investment scam after being lured by a fraudulent offer he encountered on social media.
Sarawak Commissioner of Police Dato Mancha Ata stated that the victim, a private sector employee, came across a suspicious business opportunity while browsing Facebook in mid-March this year.
He was approached by an individual who offered him access to an application supposedly designed to help start an online business.
“Enticed by the offer, the victim began communicating with the suspect through WhatsApp and proceeded to make a series of financial transactions to a bank account provided by the suspect,” he said in a statement today.
The victim, who believed he was investing in a legitimate venture, only realised he had been scammed when the suspect continued demanding more payments without delivering the promised returns.
“Up until the time the police report was lodged, the victim had not received any profits as promised,” he added.
Mancha urged members of the public to remain vigilant against similar scams and not to be easily swayed by investment offers advertised on social media.
He urged potential investors to first verify the legitimacy of such platforms and businesses through official sources such as Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) website at www.bnm.gov.my or BNM TELELINK at 1-300-88-5465, and the Securities Commission Malaysia at www.sc.com.my or 03-62048999.
In addition, victims of cybercrime-related scams—including phone scams, love scams, fake loans, and online business frauds—who have just made a transfer of funds are strongly urged to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 to increase the chances of freezing the suspect’s account and recovering their money. — DayakDaily
