by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 19: A retired man in Sibu lost about RM350,000 after being duped into investing in a non-existent online business.
In a statement, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said, the 60-year-old victim was first contacted via WhatsApp by an unknown individual in February who offered him an opportunity to register for an online business that did not actually exist.
“Enticed by the promise of high returns, the victim proceeded to communicate with the suspect via WhatsApp to discuss the business details,” he said.
In total, the victim transferred approximately RM350,000 in multiple transactions to bank accounts provided by the suspect between early and mid-this month.
“He only realised he had been scammed when he had not received any returns from the so-called business, leading him to file a police report,” Mancha added.
He urged the public to remain cautious and avoid trusting online offers blindly, emphasising the importance of conducting thorough checks before engaging in any online transactions.
Additionally, the public are advised to verify the legitimacy of websites via the following links:
- Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) – www.bnm.gov.my / BNM Telelink: 1-300-88-5465
- Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) – www.sc.com.my / Tel: 03-6204 8999
- Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) – www.ssm.com.my / Tel: 03-7721 4000
Those who have fallen victim to cyber fraud, including phone scams, love scams, e-commerce scams, and non-existent loans, or have just made a transaction to a suspicious bank account or e-wallet, can immediately contact the National Scam Response Center (NSRC) at 997.
The public is also encouraged to download the Whoscall app from Google Play Store or Apple Store to help identify scam calls or verify phone numbers and bank accounts linked to scams via the Check Scammers CCID app or the Semak Mule portal at http://semakmule.rmp.gov.my before making any financial transactions.
Additionally, individuals can check investment companies via the Investment Checkers app or SC’s https://www.sc.com.my/investment-checker. – DayakDaily
