By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 24: A retired private sector employee in his 60s from Miri lost approximately RM2.5 million after falling victim to a fraudulent online investment scheme that turned out to be non-existent.
According to Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata, the victim was lured into the scam in mid-April 2025 after coming across an advertisement on Facebook promoting an investment opportunity.
“Attracted by the offer, the victim downloaded an application called ‘STEFELAI’ and subsequently made multiple fund transfers in stages to several bank accounts provided by the suspect,” Mancha said in a statement today.
The victim only realised he had been cheated when no profits were received, even after numerous transactions amounting to RM2.5 million.
Police have classified the case as an online investment fraud and investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Mancha reminded the public to remain cautious and not be easily swayed by investment opportunities advertised on social media without proper verification.
Members of the public are advised to always check the list of unlicensed companies and websites on Bank Negara Malaysia’s portal at www.bnm.gov.my or contact BNM TELELINK at 1-300-88-5465, and the Securities Commission Malaysia at www.sc.com.my or 03-6204 8999.
Those who have recently made fund transfers to suspicious accounts are urged to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997.
The public is also encouraged to download the Whoscall app to screen suspicious calls and verify phone numbers linked to scams via the Semak Mule portal at http://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.
Additional checks on individuals or companies offering investments can be done through the Investment Checker tool at https://www.sc.com.my/investment-checker.
For updates on the latest scam tactics and modus operandi, follow the official social media pages of Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) at @JSJKPDRM and @CyberCrimeAlertRMP on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. — DayakDaily
