A hotel housekeeping manager from Kuantan has lost RM211,000 after falling prey to a fake investment scheme promoted on Facebook.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 49-year-old victim came across an investment advertisement on the social media platform last month and later contacted a woman via WhatsApp who promised lucrative returns.
“She provided a link for him to join the scheme and assured him of high profits,” Yahaya said in a statement on Tuesday (July 15).
Convinced by the offer, the man made six separate transactions between June 4 and June 11, transferring funds from his personal savings into two different bank accounts.
The scam unraveled when the victim was repeatedly asked to make additional payments, despite not receiving any returns on his initial investment. Realising he had been duped, he filed a police report at the Kuantan District Police Headquarters.
The case is now under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
If you have been a victim of a scam, especially involving online financial transfers or unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account, contact 997 immediately. This hotline operates daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Additionally, you should also contact your bank’s fraud hotline as a first step.
More details:
NSRC (997): This center is a collaboration between various entities like the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC), Royal Malaysian Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, and others. It’s designed to help victims of online financial scams and fraud, particularly those who have made unauthorized fund transfers.
Bank Fraud Hotlines: Contacting your bank’s fraud hotline is a crucial first step, as they can assist with blocking accounts and potentially recovering funds. For example, Maybank has a 24/7 fraud hotline at 03-5891 4744.
Reporting Suspicious Calls/SMS: You can also report suspicious phone calls and text messages by sending the word “Call” followed by the scammer’s number to 7726, free of charge, according to Stop! Think Fraud.
