The Perak Police have issued a stern warning to bakery and catering business operators after receiving seven reports of a sophisticated food order fraud that has resulted in total losses exceeding RM300,000. Perak Police Chief, Datuk Noor Hisam Noordin, disclosed that the scammers are targeting local food vendors by exploiting their willingness to accommodate large and complex orders during the festive season.
According to Datuk Noor Hisam, the suspects’ modus operandi involves placing initial orders for specific quantities of kuih or catered food, allowing the business owners sufficient time to begin preparations. Once a level of trust is established, the scammers then contact the victims to request additional items that the original business does not typically produce or supply.
To facilitate the scam, the suspects provide the victim with a telephone number belonging to a supposed “third-party supplier” who can provide the requested additional items. The original business operator is then urged to contact this number to complete the order for the “client.” This creates a false sense of urgency and professional cooperation between the vendor and the fictitious supplier.
When the victims reach out to the recommended contact, the individual on the other end agrees to provide the items but insists on an immediate upfront payment. Several business operators, eager to satisfy their customers, proceeded with the electronic fund transfers. However, once the payments were completed, the supposed suppliers became unreachable, leading the victims to realise they had been defrauded.
The Perak Police Chief shared these details during a media conference following the launch of Ops Selamat 26 at the Gopeng Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) yesterday, held in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 celebrations. He advised all food entrepreneurs to be cautious of unusual requests and to verify the legitimacy of any recommended third-party suppliers before making any financial commitments.
