A female technician lost RM58,500 after falling victim to a scam involving a fake offer to obtain an export certificate for sending products to Indonesia.
Kuala Terengganu District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the 38-year-old victim contacted the suspect after coming across an advertisement on Facebook promoting an opportunity to export products to the neighbouring country on March 23, 2024.
He said the victim was later added to a WhatsApp group where she was briefed on export procedures before attending an online presentation through the Zoom application on May 7, 2024.
“The suspect invited the victim to join a programme requiring a payment of RM58,500 for exhibition space rental and the application of export certificates for biscuit, anchovy and smoked meat products in Indonesia,” he said in a statement.
Azli said the victim, who was eager to expand her business network overseas, made the payment using her personal savings.
However, she became suspicious after failing to receive the promised certificate despite waiting for a long period.
He added that the suspect continued pressuring the victim to make additional payments, claiming the certificate approval process was in its final stage and could be expedited.
The victim eventually lodged a police report at 12.54pm yesterday after realising she had been deceived.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
