Online coin sale ends on sour note after student is scammed of RM5,000

PETALING JAYA: A student was duped out of more than RM5,000 after falling prey to a scammer who feigned interest in buying old coins from her.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said police received a report on the incident from an 18-year-old student.

"She was contacted by a foreign man who asked if she had any old coins or currency.

"The suspect offered her RM80,000 for eight coins," he said in a statement on Tuesday (March 9).

He said the victim only dealt with the suspect, who used a foreign telephone number, via WhatsApp.

"After she showed him what coins she had, she passed the man an account number to transfer the money.

"The suspect claimed that he had transferred the money, but it was being held and urged the victim to transfer an RM800 transaction fee," ACP Nik Ezanee said, adding that the victim then claimed she did not have the cash and only transferred RM100 to an account, believed to be a mule account, which the man provided.

He said the suspect then continuously pestered her to transfer more cash in order to release the RM80,000.

"The victim made seven transactions amounting to RM5,250 before realising she had been duped because the suspect kept demanding more money and never asked the victim to send him the coins," he said.

ACP Nik Ezanee advised the public to be cautious when making any deals, especially online.

He said there was no such thing as an online business deal which would multiply profits for anyone.

"If it is too good to be true, don't fall for it," he said.

Those with information on such cases should contact the police hotline at 03- 2052 9999 or visit the nearest police station.