PONTIAN: A 60-year-old kindergarten teacher lost RM811,500 after falling victim to a non-existent investment scheme promoted on social media.
Pontian OCPD Supt Mohammad Shofee Tayib stated that the victim became interested in an investment advertised on Facebook under the name ‘SPDR Finance and Business College’.
"The scam began on July 25 this year when the victim encountered an enticing offer promising high returns ranging from 5% to 20%, depending on the investment amount.
"Convinced by the assurances, the victim initiated payments on Oct 22, transferring money into multiple mule accounts provided by the syndicate," he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 29).
Supt Mohammad Shofee added that the victim had transferred a total of RM811,500 to the scammers.
"The fraud only became apparent to the victim when the promised capital and commissions failed to materialise," he said.
The case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries imprisonment for one to ten years, caning, and a fine if convicted.
Supt Mohammad Shofee emphasised the importance of vigilance in recognising and avoiding such scams.
"The police have advised the public to stay informed about the latest tactics employed by scammers to protect themselves.
"Information on commercial crime tactics is accessible through the official social media accounts of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok under the handles @CyberCrimeAlert and @JSJK PDRM.
"Furthermore, individuals are encouraged to use resources such as the ‘Semak Mule’ service to verify bank accounts and phone numbers associated with fraud, the CCID Infoline for assistance, and the ‘Whoscall’ application to screen potentially fraudulent calls," he explained.
If someone becomes a victim of such scams, they are urged to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 immediately. Prompt action can help block the transfer of funds from suspect accounts, he added.
