Durian trader claims cheated of over RM170,000 in investment scam

KUANTAN (Bernama): A durian trader has claimed he lost RM178,132 after joining a non-existent investment introduced by a friend he met on social media last month.

Pahang Commercial CID chief Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the victim, a 28-year-old man, claims he got to know the female suspect via Momo application on March 19, followed by a chat on WhatsApp.

"The woman is said to have shared information on an investment, which promises lucrative returns, where the victim invested RM500 via a website.

"The victim claimed he received RM807 several days later, which convinced him to raise his investment to RM200,000,” Mohd Wazir said in a statement here Saturday (April 17).

He said the victim, however, could only deposit RM178,132 in 17 online money transfer transactions to four different accounts given by the suspect from the end of March to early April.

The victim claimed he also received messages via WhatsApp from unknown numbers announcing that his investment succeeded in reaping RM218,715 in profits.

"However, the victim alleged he could not withdraw the money due to a technical problem in the investment system and was instead asked to pay up 50% of his profits causing him to feel cheated,” he said.

In this regard, the victim lodged a report at the Raub district police headquarters about 232km from here yesterday and investigation would be carried under Section 420 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and whipping and can be fined if convicted. - Bernama