Property firm loses RM200,000 to scammers via fraudulent email

JOHOR BARU: A property company in Kluang has lost RM200,000 to online scammers who impersonated one of the company’s suppliers via email.

Johor police Commercial Crime chief Asst Comm Amran Md Jusin said the company's 74-year-old managing director lodged a police report on Thursday (Dec 16).

He added that the scam began on Aug 3 after an officer of the company received an email from the scammers asking the company to change a payment account.

"The scammers used (an email account) similar to that of the company's supplier when requesting the change of account.

"So the victim approved the change and made payments to the new account number given, although the name of the receiving company was different," he said in a statement on Friday (Dec 17).

He added that on Dec 1, the company's financial manager told his management that the actual supplier claimed that no payment had been received.

He said individuals and companies should be extra careful where financial transactions were concerned.

"Always make sure you are dealing with the right people or company.

"We also encourage members of the public to use the ‘Semak Mule’ website or app to check any suspicious account, or the CCID Facebook page for any information on commercial crime," he said.