KOTA KINABALU: The public has been urged not to trust tender offers made through social media and to verify their legitimacy before engaging with parties claiming to represent government departments.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda issued this warning following a recent scam in which a contractor lost RM64,200 after being targeted by a WhatsApp message from an individual posing as a government official.
The district’s commercial crimes investigation division reported receiving 35 cases with the same modus operandi, resulting in losses totalling RM1,692,915 from January to October this year, said Kasim in a statement on Friday (Nov 8).
"In the latest incident, the victim reported receiving a WhatsApp message on Thursday (Nov 7) from a suspect who claimed to be an officer from a government department, offering a tender to supply cable wires and EcoFlow machines (portable power stations) to the purported department.
"The victim expressed interest and agreed to proceed with the tender... To convince him, the suspect provided a government order document and an acceptance letter.
"The suspect then supplied the contact number of the alleged EcoFlow machine supplier, asserting that this supplier had previously provided machines to the department.
"Trusting the arrangement, the victim called the number, ordered six units of the machines, and transferred RM64,200 to the account provided by the suspect after receiving an invoice via WhatsApp," Kasim detailed in the report.
However, the victim became suspicious after receiving an additional order request from the same suspect, and upon attempting to contact the number, he discovered his calls had been blocked.
"Realising he had been deceived, the victim lodged a police report," said Kasim.
The case will be investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and is punishable by whipping and a fine if found guilty.
"Members of the public are urged to be cautious of such tender offers on social media and to verify their authenticity before making any payments to departments or accounts provided," he emphasised.
Modus Operandi, Tender, Offer, Whatsapp, Scam, Police, Contractor, Machine
