KUCHING, Oct 27: A Sarikei homemaker in her 60s lost RM540,000 after falling victim to a non-existent investment scam that falsely promised high returns advertised on Facebook.
According to Sarawak Commissioner of Police Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, the incident occurred when, on Oct 2, 2023, the victim came across an advertisement on Facebook posted as ‘BursaMalaysla’ and contacted an individual named ‘Koon Yew Yin’ through WhatsApp.
“The victim’s interest in learning about investment in shares led her to click on a link (http://lfmstock.com) provided by the suspect.
“The woman was given a brief about the investment scheme, and the suspect offered to act as her agent to facilitate in purchasing shares of two companies, namely Minox International Group Bhd and SSF Home Group Berhad, in Bursa Saham,” he said in a statement today.
Promised substantial returns ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent, the victim made 11 transactions, amounting to approximately RM540,000, in stages and was sent to three different accounts between early and mid-October this year.
The victim only realised she was deceived when the suspect requested additional payments, even though she had not received any returns on her investment.
Mohd Azman advised members of the public to make investments only on valid platforms registered with Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia.
Additionally, the public is advised to seek financial advice from registered agents before investing.
To avoid falling prey to scams, individuals are urged not to click on unfamiliar links or download unknown APK files.
Furthermore, it is essential not to trust investment opportunities promising high returns in a short period.
“Avoid transferring money to bank accounts unrelated to the investment and conduct thorough checks on company names and online portals,” Mohd Azman urged. — DayakDaily
