Cracking the crypto code

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have received 135 reports over the Accerx cryptocurrency scam involving RM93.26mil.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said operations were conducted in several states last week to cripple the syndicate.

“We arrested 35 men and eight women following raids in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak.

“These individuals were aged between 21 and 78, comprising the company director, business owners, company secretary and mule account providers,” he told reporters yesterday.

ALSO READ: One scam probe leads to cops cracking 61 cases

Comm Ramli added that the police also seized 28 mobile phones, 14 sets of documents and a cheque.

On Feb 2, it was reported that yet another person had lost her life savings to a cryptocurrency scam on the Accerx platform, which had reportedly already ensnared business people, bankers and professionals.

In that case, a housewife here lost her savings of RM115,000 after she was lured into the bogus investment scheme through an advertisement on social media.

ALSO READ: Scammers now posing as anti-scam officers

District police chief Supt Aidi Sham Mohamed said the woman, in her 60s, lodged a report on Jan 26.

The victim said she saw an advertisement on social media in mid-December last year regarding the scheme.

She then came to know a person via WhatsApp who told her more about the scheme, which is available via the Accerx platform.

ALSO READ: Taiwanese men nabbed for trying to set up scam call centre

The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine.

On Jan 28, Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said state police had received 12 reports from people claiming to have lost a total of RM5.07mil on bogus investment schemes on the Accerx platform.

The day before, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said a businessman and a retired banker lost their savings of more than RM450,000 to schemes on the Accerx platform.

The public has been advised to check with the Securities Commission regarding investment schemes.